substantive, a. and n.
(ˈsʌbstəntɪv)
Also 4 -if, -yf.
[a. OF. substantif (from 14th cent.), ad. late L. substantīvus, f. substantia substance: see -ive. Cf. OF. sustentif, Pr. substantiu, It. so-, sustantivo, Sp. su(b)stantivo, Pg. substantivo.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of persons, nations, etc.: That stands of or by itself; independent, self-existent, self-sufficient.
| c 1470 Harding Chron. cxcii. v. 7 Thus were there dukes fiue Of newe create, and none was substantiue. c 1550 Rolland Crt. Venus i. 68 Umquhile agane serene and substantiue. 1626 Bacon New Atl. (1650) 15 How sufficient and substantive this Land was, to maintaine it selfe without any ayd (at all) of the Forrainer. 1792 Burke Pres. St. Aff. Wks. VII. 94 That Spain is not a substantive power: That she must lean on France, or on England. 1862 Rawlinson Anc. Mon., Chald. vii. I. 162 As a substantive deity, distinct from her husband. 1872 Geo. Eliot Middlem. lxxxvi, A pity that so substantive and rare a creature should have been absorbed into the life of another. 1882 T. H. Dyer Imit. Art 322 The chapel..could not have been in the church in Cimabue's boyhood, but it may have been a substantive building afterwards incorporated in it. 1888 R. L. Stevenson in Scribner's Mag. Jan. 126/2 He sees why I speak of the little people as of substantive inventors and performers. |
b. Of immaterial subjects: Having an independent existence or status; not dependent upon, subsidiary to, or referable to something else.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. xiii. 33 b, This only name Jehouah whiche they call vnspeakable is a substantiue name to expresse hys essence. 1652 L. S. People's Liberty xxii. 57 An argument not so substantive but it will fall of it self. 1659 Fuller Appeal Inj. Innoc. (1840) 474 This dispute is substantive enough to stand by itself, and too large to be adjected to this book. 1805 Ann. Rev. III. 198 His Holland is still independent. His Poland has a substantive existence. 1835 Newman Par. Serm. (1837) I. xxi. 316 We haue no direct cognizance of what may be called the substantiue existence of the body. 1846 Grote Greece i. xxi. (1862) I. 555 Patroclus has no substantive position. 1850 Merivale Rom. Emp. xlv. (1865) V. 309 A mere title..rather than a substantive office and function. 1881 Westcott & Hort Grk. N.T. II. 36 Similar deductions are required in order to avoid being misled as to the substantive text of their exemplars. 1896 Purcell Manning I. 425 Archdeacon Manning, shortly before the close of the..meeting, proposed an Amendment, which finally took the form of a substantive Resolution. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 15 Jan. 3/1 It is a little remarkable..that the old judge has escaped for so long being made the subject of a substantive Life. |
c. Of a dye: That attaches itself directly to the stuff, without the necessity of using a mordant. Also of pigments (see quot. 1902).
| 1794 Bancroft Philos. Perm. Colours 78 The colours of the first class I shall denominate substantive; using the term in the same sense in which it was employed by Bacon Lord Verulam, as denoting a thing solid by, or depending only upon itself. 1834–6 Barlow in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VIII. 533/1 The cloth is then immersed in a bath composed of a substantive colour. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 771/1 It is not unusual to arrange them [sc. pigments] into two groups, substantive and adjective. Amongst the members of the former group such a pigment as vermilion, where each particle is homogeneous, may be cited as an example. |
d. Med. (See quot. 1844.)
| 1826 J. A. Paris Treat. Diet 90 The consideration..of the Materia Alimentaria necessarily embraces, not only the substantive agents above stated, but those which, from their modus operandi, are entitled to the distinctive appellation of alimentary adjectives. 1844 Hoblyn Dict. Terms Med. (ed. 2) 294 Substantive, a term applied by Dr. Paris to those medicinal agents which possess an inherent and independent activity. |
e. Milit. Definitely appointed to the rank specified; also of an appointment or rank.
| 1854 T. Troubridge Let. 30 Dec. (MS.), I daresay they will make my Brevet rank substantive which is the new word they have coined for a real Lt. Colonelcy. 1883 H. B. Smith Life Ld. Lawrence I. vii. 177 It was not till towards the end of the following year that the ‘substantive’ post became vacant. 1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 14 Sept. 5/1 He..became ‘officiating’ Quartermaster-General..because, as Lieutenant-Colonel, he could not hold the substantive apppointment. 1898 Geogr. Jrnl. (R.G.S.) Nov. 530 When substantive major, he was also granted the local rank of lieut.-colonel. |
2. Gram. a. Denoting a substance; in noun substantive (late L. nomen substantivum): = B. 1.
nouns substantive is the correct pl.; noun substantives has also been used, and occas. † nouns substantives.
| 1509–1843 [see noun 2]. 1870 Jevons Elem. Logic iii. 17 No part of speech except a noun substantive. 1900 Speaker 23 June 374/1 Sir is a noun substantive, masculine. |
| fig. 1661 in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 100 To make the best agreement he can for the first yeare; after which he hopes your sonne will be a noune substantive. 1705, 1741 [see noun 2]. |
b. Of the nature of, equivalent to or employed as a substantive; substantival.
| 1668 Wilkins Real Char. iv. vi. 446 All which difficulties will be most clearly stated by asserting it [sc. the infinitive] to be a Substantive Participle. For which this reason is to be given; because it hath all the signs both of a Noun Substantive and a Verb. 1824 L. Murray Engl. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 105 Some writers are of opinion, that the pronouns should be classed into substantive and adjective pronouns. Ibid. 287 A substantive phrase. 1857 J. W. Gibbs Philol. Stud. 167 Substantive clauses, expressing the subject, are placed at the commencement of the sentence. 1865 Tylor Early Hist. Man. iv. 62 The substantive-adjective is common enough in English. |
3. Gram. Expressing existence; in substantive verb, formerly verb substantive: the verb ‘to be’.
Late L. verbum substantivum, tr. Gr. ῥῆµα ὑπαρκτικόν.
| 1559 in Strype Ann. Ref. (1709) I. ii. App. ix. 434 The verbe substantyve est must be taken for significat. 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 58 A verbe substantiue, or that which hath the force thereof gouerning two datiues. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 97. 2/2 This Expletive is usually attendant on the Verb Substantive. 1764 in Phil. Trans. LIV. 422 The verb substantive, in conformity to the Hebrew and Phœnician custom, has been apparently suppressed here. 1824 L. Murray Engl. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 128 The substantive verb followed by a verb in the infinitive mood,..as, ‘Ferdinand is to command the army’. 1826 Whately Logic ii. i. §2 (1850) 38 The substantive-verb is the only verb recognised by Logic. 1849 Proc. Philol. Soc. IV. 92 The original meaning of the so-called substantive verb. 1871 Earle Philol. Engl. Tongue §277. |
4. a. Belonging to the real substance or essential nature of a thing; essential.
| 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Note-bks. II. 81 Growing out of the back of the monster, without possessing any original or substantive share in its nature. 1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christ. 277 As a substantive part of their message. 1877 Owen Wellesley's Desp. p. xxi, The British Empire in India was already a great fact, and a substantive portion of the Empire at large. |
b. Of law: Relating to or consisting of the rules of right administered by a court, as opposed to the forms of procedure (adjective law).
| 1786–9 Bentham Princ. Intern. Law Wks. 1843 II. 539 The laws of peace would..be the substantive laws of the international code: the laws of war would be the adjective laws of the same code. 1837 in W. Stokes Anglo-Indian Codes (1887) I. Gen. Introd. p. xi, The Penal Code cannot be..explicit while the substantive civil law and the law of procedure are..confused. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 89 The substantive law remained; but it remained unaccompanied by any formidable sanction or by any efficient system of procedure. 1887 W. Stokes Anglo-Indian Codes I. Gen. Introd. p. ix, The first volume deals with Substantive Law, and contains the Penal Code, the Succession Act, the General Clauses Act, and the Acts relating respectively to Contract, Negotiable Instruments, Transfer of Property, Trusts, Easements and Specific Relief. |
5. Existing as a substance or individual thing; having an actual or real existence; not imaginary or illusory; real.
| 1830 Arnold Let. in Stanley Life (1844) I. vi. 285 That our addresses should be those of substantive and tangible persons, not of anonymous shadows. 1850 Grove Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 2) 25 Let us now divest the mind of the impression that heat is in itself anything substantive. 1867 Sat. Rev. 8 June 735 The mythical Prester John, who really appears to have had a substantive original among the Mongols. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 351 The mind predicates nothing except about substantive objects of thought. |
6. Having a firm or solid basis; not slight, weak, or transitory.
| 1809 Syd. Smith Serm. I. 42 As much is felt for character as for the more gross, and substantive advantages of life. Ibid. II. 421 This load of solid substantive guilt. c 1820 Hazlitt (Ogilvie 1822), Strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner. 1847 Gladstone in Morley Life (1903) I. iii. v. 375 It is a painful decision to come to,..but the only substantive doubt it raises is about remaining in parliament. 1890 James Psychol. I. 243 Let us call the resting-places the ‘substantive parts’, and the places of flight the ‘transitive parts’, of the stream of thought. |
7. Having a value or effect because of numbers or quantity; of considerable amount or quantity.
| 1821 Southey Lett. (1856) III. 229 A poem of substantive length (above 600 lines) divided into several sections. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. Ind. iii. viii. III. 389 As he grew up to manhood, Munir Mohammed claimed a substantive share in the administration. 1850 Grote Greece ii. lv. (1862) V. 13 By ensuring to every lesser state a substantive vote at the meetings of the confederacy. 1880 Sat. Rev. 3 Apr. 438 The work is far advanced at Newcastle, and a substantive beginning has been made at Wakefield. |
8. Relating to or affecting the substance or tissue of an organ.
| 1875 tr. von Ziemssen's Cycl. Med. V. 346 Vesicular emphysema..either occurs as an idiopathic disease, i.e. as substantive or substantial emphysema, or it is developed in connection with other affections of the pulmonary parenchyma. 1894 W. Bateson Mat. Stud. Variation Introd. 23 Variations in the actual constitution or substance of the parts themselves. To these Variations the name Substantive will be given. |
B. n.
1. a. (for noun substantive.) The part of speech which is used as the name of a person or thing; a noun.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 338 As adiectif and substantyf vnite asken, Acordaunce in kynde, in cas and in numbre. 1520 Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 5 b, Whan ij substantyues or moo come togyder. 1575 Gascoigne Posies, Making of Verse T iv b, The Latinists do commonly set the adiectiue after the Substantiue: As for example Femina pulchra. a 1633 Austin Medit. (1635) 74 If you will but give leave to turne a Participle into a Substantive. 1669 Croke's Rep. ii. (ed. 2) 345 Action for these words, Thou art a Bankrupt knave... It was held by the Court that the words were scandalous, and Actionable, being two Substantives. 1748 Wesley in Wks. (1872) XIV. 1 Nouns are either Substantives or Adjectives. 1843 Proc. Philol. Soc. I. 142 Berber substantives have a distinction of gender into masculine and feminine. 1879 Casssell's Techn. Educ. IV. 95/2 Reducing the name of each plant to two words, the first substantive designating the genus. |
| fig. 1883 F. H. Bradley Princ. Logic i. i. §4. 4 A fact taken as a symbol ceases so far to be fact... It is no more a substantive, but becomes the adjective that holds of another. a 1892 Manning in Purcell Life (1896) I. 583 Mr. Gladstone is a substantive, and likes to be attended by adjectives. |
† b. substantives and adjectives: the name of a game. Obs.
| 1658 E. Phillips Myst. Love Gen. Lud. (1685) 4 A Description of the witty sport of Substantives and Adjectives. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 70 You would think he were playing at Substantives and Adjectives. |
† 2. A self-subsisting or independent person or thing. Obs.
| 1613 J. Taylor (Water P.) Laugh & be Fat Wks. (1630) ii. 75/1 Now here's a Substantiue stands by himselfe. 1641 Baker Chron., John 97 Now King John being a Substantive of himselfe. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. vii. 168 Countrey-houses must be Substantives, able to stand of themselves. |
Hence † ˈsubstantive v. trans. Obs., to make into a substantive.
| 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 264 The word δαιµόνιον..is..an Adjective Substantiv'd; as well as το θεῖον is. |