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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Substantial(l, Substancial(l, adj. (n.). [ME and e.m.E. substancial (Wyclif), substantiall (a1450), substantial (1528), F. substanciel, -tiel (c1265 and c1534 in Larousse), late L. substantiālis.]

1. adj. Material, having substance. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1085.
Mydas … maid inuocatioun … that all substanciall thing … he twycheit suld turne … In to fyne gold 1549 Compl. 33/31.
That varld that the pepil malingnis is nocht ane substancial material mas, maid of eird [etc.] … bot rather [etc.]

2. Of a gathering of people: Considerable, large, in terms of size or numbers. 1542 Douglas Corr. IV 148.
It has bene the maist substanciall parliament that evir was sene in Scotland

3. Of a price: High; great. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 515.
Scho askit twelf scoir of Phillippis sine He thocht the price was ouir substanciall

4. Of a person: Possessing property. 1558-66 Knox II 354.
The Quene … caused warne Stryveling, Fyffe [etc.] … charge all substantiall men to be in Abirdene the fyfth day of October

5. That involves an essential point or feature; material, significant, of major importance. 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 68.
This agreance … the substanciall pointis heirof beand kepyt alanerly c1575 Balfour Pract. 291.
The persewar may correct … ony part of his libel, quhilk is not substantial, until litiscontestatioun be maid, or the libel be expreslie acceptit be the defendar c1550-c1580 Art of Music 21b.
Quhairfor alteration eftir ane thriefald consideration of substanciall greis is causit thrie maner of wayis be thrie rewlis to musicianis assingnat 1580 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 463.
That they should … propone some substantial reason for the mislyking thereof 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 31.
Ane contract to be extendit heiron … keipand the substanciall heids 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 75 (see Substance n. 1 d). 1593 Edzell Doc. in Crawford MSS (Rylands Lib.).
Quhen the said signature beis writtin ower eik thairinto sum of the substantiall priuileges of the burgh contenit in this erectione 1596–7 Crim. Trials II 14.
Quhilk trew Act being … in sum pairtis eikit be him, and in vther substanciall articles thairof pairit a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 55.
The substantiall poynts of a breive ar the name and surname of the persewer and defender [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 270.
Interlyneing in any part not substantiall, or not altering the sence, vitiats not the wreitt 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 2.
I was ordered to give assurans thatt nothing shoull be intradused thatt was substantiall in the Church bot by the way of generall assembeleis 1653 Binning Wks. (1735) 30/2 (see Substance n. 1 (1)). 1653 Brodie Diary 28.
God [doth] not so much look what we are in the present state or fit of repentance … as what we are in the substantial duties of … obedience

6. Full of substance (Substance n. 6); weighty in respect of content and subject-matter. 1664 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II 483.
That ane full cleir substantiall way of goeing throw the wholl bodie of philosophie be endeavored

7. Of a person or body of persons: Of real worth or repute; reliable, reputable. 1549 Compl. 30/21.
Ane constant substancial counsel to gouuerne ane realme quhen the prince or princes ar in tendir aige 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 49.
Neid we seik for ane mair substanciall witnes then Cato

8. absol. as n. pl. a. Those things which are central to something; the essential elements. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 547.
Alwayis kepand all the uther substantiallis of the formar seill a1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXIII 209.
At the leist that the said contract in thir substantiallis efter fallowing sould be reformit 1664 Decis. Lords G. 76 (see Solempnité n. 3 (1)). 1681 Stair Inst. (1681) i xiii 262.
The clauses which are adjected in infeftments not being of the substantials or solemnities thereof

b. Things of substance; solid, worthwhile qualities. 1653 Binning Wks. 570.
Lowliness, meekness, charity [etc.] … All these substantials we let go, that we may get hold of some empty unedifying notions