| substantive |
| Definition: That which expresses existence is substantive, thus any part of speech that is used to name persons or things — and to name something is to assert its existence — is a substantive. Note: The verb to be is, for this reason, called the the substantive verb. |
| Example: The words Bob, dog, and imagination are substantives. |
| Etymology: The French introduced the grammatical term substantive in about 1393 to distinguish nouns from adjectives. It derives from the Latin phrase nomen substantivum, name or word of substance. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: Its first OED citation is from 1393: "As adiectif and substantyf vnite asken, Acordaunce in kynde, in cas and in numbre." (Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 338) |