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substantive

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
sub·stan·tive  (sbstn-tv)
adj.
1. Substantial; considerable.
2. Independent in existence or function; not subordinate.
3. Not imaginary; actual; real.
4. Of or relating to the essence or substance; essential: substantive information.
5. Having a solid basis; firm.
6. Grammar Expressing or designating existence; for example, the verb to be.
7. Grammar Designating a noun or noun equivalent.
n. Grammar
A word or group of words functioning as a noun.

[Middle English substantif, self-sufficient, independent, from Old French, substantive, from Late Latin substantvus, from Latin substantia, substance; see substance.]

substan·tive·ly adv.
substan·tive·ness n.

substantive
Noun
Grammar a noun or pronoun used in place of a noun
Adjective
1. having importance or significance: substantive negotiations between management and staff
2. of or being the essential element of a thing [Latin substare to stand beneath]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.substantive - any word or group of words functioning as a noun
word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify; "words are the blocks from which sentences are made"; "he hardly said ten words all morning"
noun - a content word that can be used to refer to a person, place, thing, quality, or action
Adj.1.substantive - having a firm basis in reality and being therefore important, meaningful, or considerable; "substantial equivalents"
essential - basic and fundamental; "the essential feature"
2.substantive - defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established; "substantive law"
law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
adjective, procedural - relating to court practice and procedure as opposed to the principles of law; "adjective law"
3.substantive - being on topic and prompting thought; "a meaty discussion"
meaningful - having a meaning or purpose; "a meaningful explanation"; "a meaningful discussion"; "a meaningful pause"

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The Cyclic poet uses `beggar' as a substantive, and so means to say that when Odysseus had changed his clothes and put on rags, there was no one so good for nothing at the ships as Odysseus.
Many who knew her, thought it a pity that so substantive and rare a creature should have been absorbed into the life of another, and be only known in a certain circle as a wife and mother.
The Albino is as well made as other men --has no substantive deformity --and yet this mere aspect of all-pervading whiteness makes him more strangely hideous than the ugliest abortion.
 
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