to live on (followed by -ból/-ből) (to have a particular amount of money for food and other necessities) · to make a living, to depend on something (followed by -ból/-ből) as a source of income · to live through (to continue to live despite unfortunate or unfavorable circumstances)
From Proto-Italic *merēō, from earlier *merējō, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mr̥-éh₁-yeti, from *(s)mer- (“to assign, allot”). Cognate of Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “share, portion”). See also Latin merx, Ancient Greek μείρομαι (meíromai, “to receive as one's portion or due”) and Hittite 𒈥𒀝𒍣 (mar-ak-zi /marktsi/, “to cut up, divide (a sacrifice), separate, unravel”).