† subˈstantious, a. Chiefly Sc. Obs.
Also 5 substa(u)ncyous, 6 -cius, -tius (substentious), 6–8 -cious, (7 substanteious).
[a. OF. substantieux, = It. sostanzioso, Sp., Pg. substancioso, ad. med.L. substantiōsus, f. substantia substance: see -ious.]
1. Weighty, important; solid, firm; effective.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 431/2 Wyth shorte and substauncyous wordes. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 248 God my spreit now inspir,..And send me sentence to say, substantious, et noble. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) I. 5 So that it be substantious of sentence. 1549 in R. Keith Hist. Scot. (1844) I. App. 435 The Lord Governour and Lordis of secret Counsall,..hes for substantious resistance thairof,..offerit thameselfis reddie to defend thair awin auld liberties. 1597 R. Bruce Apol. in Wodrow Life (1843) 175 To beseech him for some substantious remeed to all these evils. 1607 Gladstanes in Orig. Lett. to Jas. I (Bann. Cl.) I. 118 Thay find, in steid of superficiall..inventiones, profitable and substantious theologie. 1640 R. Baillie Canterb. Self-Convict. 98 Of all the limbs of the masse the most substantious..are..the Offertorie, the Canon, the Communion. 1832 Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 284, I am glad that the political papers exist now in a substantious shape. |
2. Of structures: Substantial, solid.
| 1529 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 127 Ane nobill and substantius brig..completit and ended substantiuslie in all necessaries. 1541 Sir J. Sandilands Deed in Proc. Antiq. Scot. (1860) III. 162 To rais ane substantious wall of rouch werk. |
3. Wealthy, well-to-do.
| 1517 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. V. 153 The lordis, baronis, and uthiris substancius men. 1532 Ibid. VI. 117 All baronis, frehaldaris, and substantious gentilmen. 1545 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 11 It is necessar..to have with thame substantious freindis. 1560 First & Sec. Bk. Discipl. (1621) 46 Every fewar and substantious Gentlemans sonne. 1640 Bk. War Committee of Covenanters 54 Gif he be ane heritor or substantious soccarer [read cottarer] or yeoman. |
b. Of provision: Ample.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy i. ix. (S.T.S.) I. 52 To mak provisioun in the maist riche and substancius maner þat þai mycht to Invaid vthir. 1561 in R. Keith Hist. Scot. (1734) I. 198 That thai with thair substancious Housaldis, weill bodin in feir of Weir, in thair maist substancious Maner, meit James Commendatour of Saintandrois. 1643 in Spalding Troub. Scot. (1792) II. 101 All the fencible persons..shall provide themselves..warlike provision..in the most substantious manner. |
4. Considerable in number or amount.
| 1569 St. Papers Eliz., For. (1874) 154 [Some] substancious [force of footmen]. 1584 in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 414/1 Accumpaneit with a substantius number of your honest freindis. |