'exist' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'exsistere' (or 'existere'), where 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'sistere' meant 'to cause to stand, stand forth'.

'exsistere' (Latin) passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin forms and then into Middle English as 'exist(en)' (influenced by Old French and learned Latin), eventually becoming the modern English 'exist'.

Initially, it meant 'to stand out, appear, come into being'; over time it evolved to the current general sense of 'to have being, be real, or be present'.