Coexist

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˌkəʊ.ɪɡˈzɪst/

Definitions

1. To occupy the same space or time together without conflict or opposition
2. To exist at the same time or in the same place while maintaining a mutual acceptance or harmony
3. To share the same environment or period without clashing interests or hostilities

Etymology: "Coexist" is a plain formation: the prefix "co-", meaning "together" or "jointly," attached to "exist." The prefix comes from Latin "com-," which shows up in English words like "cooperate" and "collaborate," and it attaches freely to verbs to mean an action shared by two or more parties. "Exist" itself traces back through Old French to Latin "existere," a combination of "ex-" ("out") and "sistere" ("to stand" or "to set"), so the literal sense is something like "to stand forth" or "to emerge." The idea of standing out into being gradually narrowed into the plain sense of "to be real or present." Put together, "coexist" means to stand or be present side by side with something else. Its Latin relative "coexsistere" shows the same pattern, and the English word follows that model.

Synonyms: exist together, live together, cohabit, cooperate, concur

Antonyms: conflict, oppose, disagree, clash, collide