Word Study
substantive
CIDE DICTIONARY
substantive, a. [L. substantivus: cf. F. substantif.].
- Betokening or expressing existence; as, the substantive verb, that is, the verb to be. [1913 Webster]
- Depending on itself; independent. [1913 Webster]"He considered how sufficient and substantive this land was to maintain itself without any aid of the foreigner." [1913 Webster]
- Enduring; solid; firm; substantial. [1913 Webster]"Strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner." [1913 Webster]
- Pertaining to, or constituting, the essential part or principles; as, the law substantive. [1913 Webster]
substantive, n. [Cf. F. substantif.].
A noun or name; the part of speech which designates something that exists, or some object of thought, either material or immaterial; as, the words man, horse, city, goodness, excellence, are substantives. [1913 Webster]
substantive, v. t.
To substantivize. Cudworth. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
substantive, adj. & n.
--adj. also 1 having separate and independent existence.
2 Law relating to rights and duties.
3 (of an enactment, motion, resolution, etc.) made in due form as such; not amended.
4 Gram. expressing existence.
5 (of a dye) not needing a mordant.
6 Mil. (of a rank etc.) permanent, not acting or temporary.
7 archaic denoting a substance.
--n. Gram. = NOUN.
--adj. also 1 having separate and independent existence.
2 Law relating to rights and duties.
3 (of an enactment, motion, resolution, etc.) made in due form as such; not amended.
4 Gram. expressing existence.
5 (of a dye) not needing a mordant.
6 Mil. (of a rank etc.) permanent, not acting or temporary.
7 archaic denoting a substance.
--n. Gram. = NOUN.
Idiom
the substantive verb the verb 'to be'.
Derivative
substantival adj. substantively adv. esp. Gram.
Etymology
ME f. OF substantif -ive, or LL substantivus (as SUBSTANCE)
THESAURUS
substantive
ab ovo, abstract noun, adherent noun, adjectival, adverbial, appreciable, attributive, basal, basic, bedrock, central, collective noun, common noun, concrete, conjunctive, constituent, constitutive, copulative, correct, elemental, elementary, essential, focal, formal, functional, fundamental, gerund, glossematic, grammatic, gut, hypostasis, indispensable, intransitive, life-and-death, life-or-death, linking, material, nominal, noun, noun phrase, of the essence, of vital importance, original, palpable, participial, ponderable, postpositional, prepositional, primal, primary, primitive, pronominal, pronoun, proper noun, quotation noun, radical, real, sensible, solid, structural, substantial, syntactic, tagmemic, tangible, transitive, underlying, verbal, vitalROGET THESAURUS
substantive
Existence
N existence, being, entity, ens, esse, subsistence, reality, actuality, positiveness, fact, matter of fact, sober reality, truth, actual existence, presence, coexistence, stubborn fact, hard fact, not a dream, no joke, center of life, essence, inmost nature, inner reality, vital principle, ontology, existing, existent, under the sun, in existence, extant, afloat, afoot, on foot, current, prevalent, undestroyed, real, actual, positive, absolute, true, substantial, substantive, self-existing, self-existent, essential, well-founded, well-grounded, unideal, unimagined, not potential, authentic, actually, in fact, in point of fact, in reality, indeed, de facto, ipso facto, ens rationis, ergo sum cogito, thinkest thou existence doth depend on time?.Substantiality
N substantiality, hypostasis, person, being, thing, object, article, item, something, a being, an existence, creature, body, substance, flesh and blood, stuff, substratum, matter, corporeity, element, essential nature, groundwork, materiality, substantialness, vital part, world, plenum, substantive, substantial, hypostatic, personal, bodily, tangible, corporeal, substantially, bodily, essentially.For further exploring for "substantive" in Webster Dictionary Online