substance

Where does the word "substance" come from? It comes from Latin substantia, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Substance’s story begins in Latin: substantia meant “that which stands beneath, essential nature.” That which stands beneath, essential nature, from sub- (beneath) and stare (to stand). It reached English by 1300s as substance. Settled as the English word for physical matter or essential meaning. Today, substance means a particular kind of physical matter, or the real, essential meaning of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient substantia "that which stands beneath, essential nature", that which stands beneath, essential nature, from sub- (beneath) and stare (to stand).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s substance "a physical material, or the essential meaning of something", settled as the English word for physical matter or essential meaning.