substantive

See also: Substantive and substantivé

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French substantif.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/, /səbˈstæntɪv/

Adjective

substantive (comparative more substantive, superlative most substantive)

1. Of the essence or essential element of a thing; as, "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.

   Synonyms: essential, in essence

2. 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

   Antonym: superficial

3. (law) Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right; as, "substantive law".

   Antonyms: adjective, procedural

4. (chemistry) Of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.

   Antonym: adjective

5. Depending on itself; independent.
   • 1765 [1627], Francis Bacon, “New Atlantis”, in The Works of Francis Bacon‎^[3], page 356:

     He therefore taking into consideration, how sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid at all of the foreigner,

6. (grammar) Used like a noun substantive.

   Synonym: substantival

7. (military, of a rank or appointment) Actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• substantive law
• substantively

Translations

of the essence or essential element of a thing

• Finnish: oleellinen (fi), olennainen (fi)
• Irish: ábhartha
• Italian: essenziale (it)

• Portuguese: substantivo (pt), substancial (pt), essencial (pt)
• Spanish: sustantivo (es), sustancial
• Uzbek: ot (uz)

having substance and prompting thought

• Finnish: oleellinen (fi), olennainen (fi)
• French: substantif (fr)

• Irish: ábhartha
• Italian: sostanziale (it)

law: applying to essential legal principles

independant

of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant

• French: direct (fr), substantif (fr)

substantival — see substantival

military: actually and legally held

Noun

substantive (plural substantives)

2. (grammar) A word that names a person, place, thing or idea; a noun (sensu stricto). [from 16th c.]

Alternative forms

• subst. (abbreviation used in lexicography and grammar)

Synonyms

• noun (sensu stricto), noun substantive

Hypernyms

• noun (sensu lato)

Derived terms

• substantival, substantivally
• substantivise/substantivize

Translations

noun — see noun

Verb

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

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French

Adjective

substantive

1. feminine singular of substantif

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Interlingue

Noun

substantive

1. noun

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Latin

Adjective

substantīve

1. vocative masculine singular of substantīvus

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Portuguese

Verb

substantive

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of substantivar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of substantivar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of substantivar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of substantivar

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Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sub.stanˈti.ve]

Noun

substantive

1. plural of substantiv