Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Substance
Sub′stance
,Noun.
[F., fr. L.
substantia
, fr. substare
to be under or present, to stand firm; sub
under + stare
to stand. See Stand
.] 1.
That which underlies all outward manifestations; substratum; the permanent subject or cause of phenomena, whether material or spiritual; that in which properties inhere; that which is real, in distinction from that which is apparent; the abiding part of any existence, in distinction from any accident; that which constitutes anything what it is; real or existing essence.
These cooks, how they stamp, and strain, and grind,
And turn
And turn
substance
into accident! Chaucer.
Heroic virtue did his actions guide,
And he the
And he the
substance
, not the appearance, chose. Dryden.
2.
The most important element in any existence; the characteristic and essential components of anything; the main part; essential import; purport.
This edition is the same in
substance
with the Latin. Bp. Burnet.
It is insolent in words, in manner; but in
substance
it is not only insulting, but alarming. Burke.
3.
Body; matter; material of which a thing is made; hence, substantiality; solidity; firmness;
as, the
substance
of which a garment is made; some textile fabrics have little substance
.4.
Material possessions; estate; property; resources.
And there wasted his
substance
with riotous living. Luke xv. 13.
Thy
Can not amount unto a hundred marks.
substance
, valued at the highest rate,Can not amount unto a hundred marks.
Shakespeare
We are destroying many thousand lives, and exhausting our
substance
, but not for our own interest. Swift.
Sub′stance
,Verb.
T.
To furnish or endow with substance; to supply property to; to make rich.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Substance
SUB'STANCE
,Noun.
1.
In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit. Thus the soul of man is called an immaterial substance, a cogitative substance, a substance endued with thought. We say, a stone is a hard substance, tallow is a soft substance.2.
That which supports accidents. That which subsists by itself is called substance; that which subsists in and by another, is called a mode or manner of being.
3.
The essential part; the main or material part. In this epitome, we have the substance of the whole book. This edition is the same in substance with the Latin.
4.
Something real, not imaginary; something solid, not empty. Heroic virtue did his actions guide,
And he the substance, not th' appearance chose.
5.
Body; corporeal nature or matter. The qualities of plants are more various than those of animal substances.
6.
Goods; estate; means of living. Job's substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, &c. Job 1. We are--exhausting our substance, but not for our own interest.