Middle English Dictionary Entry
substanciāl n.
Entry Info
| Forms | substanciāl n. |
| Etymology | From substanciāl adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Phil. That which pertains to the very nature of a thing; also, a fundamental part of something; (b) ?the essential nature of something, or its being; ?error for substancial adj. 1.(a); (c) a constituent part of a thing; (d) anat. a supporting structure; (e) med. a remedy or medicine capable of modifying the substance of the body or a bodily part.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)495 : Þe kynde and þe nature of oure lijf here..is lijk to þe kynde and þe nature of oure lijf which we schule haue in heuene þere, þouȝ al þer be difference in accidentals..and so..þe lijf now lad in þis world here and þe lijf to be lad aftir in heuene accorden in hir substancialis.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)73/144 : How shulde than the accident of a thinge ben in more surete of beinge than substancial?
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/b : Þe mone hath somme propirtees þat ben nouȝt ful goode..he haþ substancial in derknesse [L substantialem obscuritatem] by cause þat sche hath none liȝt of hirself.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)234b/b : Alle þe substancials of þis tree hauen sournesse.
d
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)112 : Bones..ar the hardeste partes of all the body and the foundament & the substanciall [*Chauliac(1) 9b/b: susteynyng; Chauliac(2) 36/16: the haldynge vp] of all the partes of the body.
e
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166a/a : Operacions of cirurgicale þingez bene..seid complexionalez & qualitatyuez, for þai..hingeþ of þe qualiteez of elementez, as bene þo þat..makeþ hotenez..& drienez; Som bene..substancialez [Ch.(2): þe substanciales], as þo þat be to haue repercussif, attractif, & resolutif..& also dolour sedatif.