Substance
/ˈsʌb.stəns/noun
A thing that has physical existence or an essential nature; matter.
Did you know?The word entered English through medieval philosophy, where Latin *substantia* named the underlying reality that “stands under” changing appearances—basically the invisible core beneath the illusion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sta-
“to stand, make stand”
Latin
Latin
substantia
“being, essence, that which stands under appearances”
Old French
Old French
substence / substance
“essence, material existence”
Middle English
English
substaunce
“essence, material body, property”
Modern English
English
substance
“matter; a thing of solid or definite physical existence”
Explore more surprising origins