Wiktionary

substantive

See also: Substantive and substantivé

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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substantive (comparative more substantive, superlative most substantive)

  1. Of the essence or essential element of a thing.
    Synonyms: essential, in essence
    substantive information
    • 2012 October 6, “The first presidential debate: Back in the centre, back in the game”, in The Economist‎[1]:
      In one sense the first debate achieved the worst of all worlds: it managed to be technical, even dull, without being substantive or especially honest.
    1. (by extension) Constituting the substance of content rather than its style, and thus always nontrivial.
      Substantive editing is never trivial, whereas some aspects of copyediting are trivial.
      substantive changes made by the lawyers
  3. Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.
    • 1836 [1829], William Hazlitt, “Definition of wit”, in Literary Remains of the Late William Hazlitt‎[2], page 19:
      Once more then, strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner;
    Synonyms: meaty, substantial
    Antonyms: superficial, trivial
  5. (chemistry, of a dye) Not needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
    Antonym: adjective
  6. Depending on itself; independent.
    • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 16:
      Hee therefore taking into Conſideration, how ſufficient and ſuſstantiue this Land was, to maintaine it ſelfe without any aid (at all) of the foreigner; […]
  7. (grammar) Of or pertaining to a substantive.
    Synonym: substantival
  8. (military, of a rank or appointment) Actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment

Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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substantive (plural substantives)

  2. (grammar) Ellipsis of noun substantive or substantive noun; a noun or a group of words (a noun phrase) that act as a noun (in a sentence). [from 16th c.]
    Synonyms: (sensu stricto) noun, noun substantive
    Hypernym: (sensu lato) noun
    • 1986, Harry Holtzman, Martin S[amuel] James, “The New Plastic in Painting (1917)”, in The New Art—The New Life: The Collected Writings of Piet Mondrian, Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., →ISBN, part I (The De Stijl Years: 1917–24), page 27:
      The Dutch verb beelden and substantive beelding signify form-giving, creation, and by extension image—as do gestalten and Gestaltung in German, where Neo-Plastic[ism] is translated as Die neue Gestaltung.
  3. Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering.
    Coordinate term: accidental

Alternative forms

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  • subst. (abbreviation used in lexicography and grammar)

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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substantive (third-person singular simple present substantives, present participle substantiving, simple past and past participle substantived)

  2. (grammar, very rare) To make a word belonging to another part of speech into a substantive (that is, a noun) or use it as a noun.
    Synonyms: substantivize, nominalize

Usage notes

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See also

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French

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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substantive

  1. feminine singular of substantif

Galician

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Verb

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substantive

  1. inflection of substantivar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative

Latin

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Pronunciation

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Adjective

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substantīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of substantīvus

Portuguese

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Verb

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substantive

  1. inflection of substantivar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative

Romanian

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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substantive

  1. plural of substantiv

Spanish

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Verb

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substantive

  1. inflection of substantivar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative
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