exIStimus

Existimus is a Latin verb form belonging to the first-person plural of the present indicative active. It is built from the common root exist- combined with the normal Latin present ending -imus, yielding a complete sentence meaning roughly “we exist,” “we arise,” or “we appear,” depending on the specific verb with which it is used. The exact sense of exist- depends on the lemma in question, since Latin has several verbs with related meanings including to exist, to arise, or to appear.

In classical Latin, existō (and its related form existere) covers meanings related to appearing, arising, or coming to be, and existimus would be the natural present-tense form for the first-person plural. As a standalone sentence, existimus can function as a concise assertion of presence or existence: "We exist." As with other Latin finite verbs, its interpretation is guided by context and accompanying words.

Pronunciation in reconstructed classical Latin would place the stress on the penultimate syllable: ex-IS-ti-mus. In later Latin and modern reconstructions, the form is still encountered in grammars and paleography as the explicit first-person plural present tense.

Existimus has limited use as a standalone lexical entry in English-language sources, but it appears in Latin texts and inscriptions where a speaker asserts collective existence or presence. It is also sometimes found in modern contexts as a motto or organizational name drawing on the stark clarity of the phrase “we exist.” See also Latin verb conjugation, existence in Latin, and existere.