substantive

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See also: Substantive and substantivé

English

Etymology

From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

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:
      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, 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.
  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

Translations

substantival — see substantival

Noun

substantive (plural substantives)

  2. (grammar) Clipping of noun substantive or clipping of substantive noun.
    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

  • subst. (abbreviation used in lexicography and grammar)

Derived terms

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

Usage notes

See also

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

French

Pronunciation

Adjective

substantive

  1. feminine singular of substantif

Galician

Verb

substantive

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

Latin

Pronunciation

Adjective

substantīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of substantīvus

Portuguese

Verb

substantive

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

Romanian

Pronunciation

Noun

substantive

  1. plural of substantiv

Spanish

Verb

substantive

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