substantial English · revision 5944

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la-lat substantialis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English substancial, [[bor|fro|substantiel]] and directly from Latin substantiālis “having substance or reality, material”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) in Christian Latin “of the substance or essence”, rendering Greek hypostatikós,^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|substantia|t=being, essence, material]] (see [[substance]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of food, ample or abundant: 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'', in Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Having real existence, and in philosophy and theology relating to the very nature of a thing, are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) hence central or essential;^(Etymonline) the OED has involving an essential part from 1432–50.^(OED 1989) Of solid material or workmanship it is from 1390,^(OED 1989) and of persons, sturdy or burly, from about 1400, a sense now gone.^(OED 1989) Well-to-do, possessing property, came later.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The alternative adjective substantious (1610s) did not last.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – ample, of food.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – having real existence.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1390 – of solid make.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – sturdy, of persons.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610s – substantious, short-lived.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Large in amount, value or importance; [[considerable]]: ''a substantial sum''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Solidly built; strong.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a meal, large and nourishing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Real rather than imaginary; having [[substance]].^(AHD)

+ # Wealthy or influential.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Concerning the main points; essential: ''in substantial agreement''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[substantiality]]

+ * [[substantially]]

+ * [[substantialness]]

+ * [[nonsubstantial]]

+ * [[presubstantial]]

+ * [[substantialism]]

+ * [[supersubstantial]]

+ * [[unsubstantial]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[substance]]

+ * [[substantive]]

+ * [[substantiate]]

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[state]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}