existence English · revision 4591

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1384|origins=la exsistere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|existence]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|existence]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-med|existentia]], exsistentia “the state of having being”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from existēns, present participle of Latin exsistere “to stand forth, emerge, appear; to come into being, exist”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from ex “forth” and sistere “to cause to stand, take a stand”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) a reduplicated form of [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|alt=*sta-|t=to stand]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[exist]] and [[assist]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Reality, as opposed to appearance: about 1384 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline; the sense is obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Being, the fact or state of existing, is from about 1430,^(OED 1989) late Middle English in SOED.^(SOED 2002) Continued being as a living creature, life, sometimes in a disparaging sense as in ''a miserable existence'', is from 1634,^(OED 1989) and continuance in being from 1736.^(OED 1989) Something that exists, an entity, is from 1605,^(OED 1989) and all that exists from 1751.^(OED 1989) A mode of existing is from before 1763.^(OED 1989) The French words existence and apparence were often opposed, which explains the early sense “reality”.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1384 – reality (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – the state of existing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – an entity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – life.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – all that exists.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The fact or state of existing; [[being]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Continued being; life, especially of a particular kind: ''a lonely existence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # All that exists.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that exists; an [[entity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coexistence]]

+ * [[inexistence]]

+ * [[nonexistence]]

+ * [[postexistence]]

+ * [[preexistence]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[exist]]

+ * [[existential]]

+ * [[assist]]

+ * [[consist]]

+ * [[insist]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Existence, actuality and being all denote the fact or state of existing.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}