substance: [13] Latin substantia denoted the ‘essence’ of something. Derived from the present participle of substāre ‘be present’, a compound verb formed from the prefix sub- ‘under’ and stāre ‘stand’ (a relative of English stand), it was virtually a loan-translation of Greek hupóstasis ‘substance, existence, essence’, which likewise was formed from elements meaning literally ‘under’ and ‘stand’. The word’s ultimate etymological meaning is thus ‘that which underlies or is the essence of something’. => stand, station, statue
substance (n.)
c. 1300, "essential nature, real or essential part," from Old French sustance, substance "goods, possessions; nature, composition" (12c.), from Latin substantia "being, essence, material," from substans, present participle of substare "stand firm, stand or be under, be present," from sub "up to, under" (see sub-) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Latin substantia translates Greek ousia "that which is one's own, one's substance or property; the being, essence, or nature of anything." Meaning "any kind of corporeal matter" is first attested mid-14c. Sense of "the matter of a study, discourse, etc." first recorded late 14c.
双语例句
1. This substance has now been cloned by molecular biologists.
该物质现在已被分子生物学家克隆。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Syria will attend only if the negotiations deal with issues of substance.
只有在谈判涉及重大问题时叙利亚才会参加。
来自柯林斯例句
3. There is no substance in any of these allegations.
这些指控都毫无根据。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It's questionable whether anything of substance has been achieved.
是否已经取得了任何实质性进展还是个问题。
来自柯林斯例句
5. A pH test measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance.