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.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Hazlitt, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     Strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner.

   Synonyms: meaty, substantial

   Antonyms: 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.

   Antonyms: adjective

5. Depending on itself; independent.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Francis Bacon, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

     He considered how sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid of the foreigner.

6. (grammar) Used like a noun substantive.

   Synonyms: substantival

7. (military) (describing 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
• Portuguese: substantivo (pt), substancial (pt), essencial (pt)

• Spanish: sustantivo (es), sustancial
• Uzbek: ot (uz)

having substance and prompting thought

• Finnish: oleellinen (fi), olennainen (fi)

• Irish: ábhartha

(law)

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

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

substantival — see substantival

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} substantif

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