a. and sb. [ad. L. ex(s)istent-em, pr. pple. of ex(s)istĕre: see EXIST.]
A. adj.
1. That exists, existing; having being or existence. Often emphasized by actually, really, truly, etc.
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., Pref. One common sence existent in them all.
1594. Mirr. Policy (1599), Q iij. Some bad Societie aimeth at an apparent but not existent good.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 18. Whether that thing be truly existent, or be only feigned.
1734. Jackson, Existence of God, 46. There is but one necessarily existent Being.
1793. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 302. Forty-five thousand men were about the existent force.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. lxxxvii. And thou, dread statue! yet existent in The austerest form of naked majesty.
1860. Bright, Sp. Ch. Rates, 27 April. A power which is found to be greatly less existent in a congregation of the Established Church.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., iii. (ed. 3), 27. The quantity [of gold] existent and in circulation.
absol. 1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1352. Usurping the name of the true Jehovah, or alwaies Existent.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. viii. (1712), 146. He declares why the Existent should exist.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 522/2. Pure unconditioned actuality, the ever existent, or God.
2. Now existing; present-day.
1791. Burke, Th. Fr. Affairs, Wks. 1815, VII. 72. To govern the existent body with as sovereign a sway as they had done the last.
1874. Ruskin, Fors Clav., IV. xliii. 153. It gives you types of existent Frenchmen … of a very different class.
B. sb. An existent person or thing.
1644. Bp. Maxwell, Prerog. Chr. Kings, ii. 31. Frequently expressions in the abstract expresse existents in the concrete.
1655. H. More, App. Antid. (1662), 146. If there be any necessary Existent, it is plain that it is Matter.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. (1738), 69. For He is a necessary existent.
a. 1878. Lewes, Study Psychol. (1879), 51. These same phenomena viewed … no longer as modes or existences, but as subjects or existents.
Hence Existently adv.
1694. R. Burthogge, Reason, 67. Sentiments (as such) are, in their own formalities, but apparently only, not existently, without the faculties that so conceive them.
