Wiktionary

substantive

See also: Substantive and substantivé

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.

Pronunciation edit

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/, /səbˈstæntɪv/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)

Adjective edit

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.
    • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], page 16, →OCLC:
      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 edit

Translations edit

substantival — see substantival

Noun edit

substantive (plural substantives)

  2. (grammar) Clipping of noun substantive or clipping of substantive noun. [from 16th c.]
    Synonyms: (sensu stricto) noun, noun substantive
    Hypernym: (sensu lato) noun
  3. Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering.
    Coordinate term: accidental

Alternative forms edit

  • subst. (abbreviation used in lexicography and grammar)

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

noun — see noun

Verb edit

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 edit

See also edit

(converting into or using as another part of speech:)

French edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

substantive

  1. feminine singular of substantif

Galician edit

Verb edit

substantive

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

Latin edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

substantīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of substantīvus

Portuguese edit

Verb edit

substantive

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

Romanian edit

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

substantive

  1. plural of substantiv

Spanish edit

Verb edit

substantive

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