existiere

Existiere is a historical or literary verb form found in some Romance-language texts that functions as a variant of the verb existir/existir, meaning “to exist.” In modern Spanish and Portuguese, the standard forms are existiera or existiese (Spanish) and existisse (Portuguese) in the imperfect subjunctive. Existiere appears mainly in older or regional spellings and in some Latinized or archaic writings. Because it is not used in contemporary standard usage, existiere is primarily of interest to philologists, linguists, and readers of classical or historical texts.

Etymology and historical development: the form derives from Latin existere, meaning to arise or exist, passing through medieval and early modern Romance spellings. In certain printings and copyings, the ending -iere reflects regional orthographic variation seen in subjunctive forms of existir/existir. Over time, standardization favored existiera/existiese in Spanish and existisse in Portuguese, while existiere faded from regular use.

Grammatical notes: existiere is typically found in hypothetical or conditional clauses introduced by si, where it would be translated as “if there existed” or “if there should exist.” Exact mood and tense assignment can vary by period and author, with many editors treating existiera or existiese as the preferred forms in historical texts. In modern grammar, existiere is generally described as an obsolete or variant form rather than a living option.

See also: existir, existencia, subjuntivo, existere, etymology of existence.