3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Substance  \Sub"stance\,  v.  t. 
  To  furnish  or  endow  with  substance;  to  supply  property  to  to 
  make  rich.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Substance  \Sub"stance\,  n.  [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  substance  into  accident!  --Chaucer. 
 
  Heroic  virtue  did  his  actions  guide,  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  substance,  valued  at  the  highest  rate,  Can  not 
  amount  unto  a  hundred  marks.  --Shak. 
 
  We  are  destroying  many  thousand  lives,  and 
  exhausting  our  substance,  but  not  for  our  own 
  interest.  --Swift. 
 
  5.  (Theol.)  Same  as  {Hypostasis},  2. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  substance 
  n  1:  that  which  has  mass  and  occupies  space;  "an  atom  is  the 
  smallest  indivisible  unit  of  matter"  [syn:  {matter}] 
  2:  the  choicest  or  most  essential  or  most  vital  part  of  some 
  idea  or  experience:  "the  gist  of  the  prosecutor's 
  argument";  "the  nub  of  the  story"  [syn:  {kernel},  {core}, 
  {center},  {essence},  {gist},  {heart},  {inwardness},  {marrow}, 
  {meat},  {nub},  {pith},  {sum},  {nitty-gritty}] 
  3:  the  idea  that  is  intended;  "What  is  the  sense  of  this 
  proverb?"  [syn:  {meaning},  {sense}] 
  4:  the  stuff  of  which  an  object  consists 
  5:  considerable  capital  (wealth  or  income);  "he  is  a  man  of 
  means"  [syn:  {means}] 
  6:  what  a  communication  that  is  about  something  is  about  [syn: 
  {message},  {content},  {subject  matter}] 

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