late 14th century, from Latin ex(s)istentia "that by which essence becomes actual"
"the naked being," as opposed to essentia (Greek ουσία/ousía) as the essential beingness
see essence
the verb exist is from circa 1600
prior to that:
Middle English: ibēn, ibeon (based on be)
Old English had wesan
any German speaker will recognize both, the ME and OE forms
according to CDEs
~☉~ | lucid definition; added layer of lucidity, or aethereal context |
⚜ | classic definition |
☣ | artificium definition; usually words which have undergone a warped evolution, or a complete perversion of the original sense |