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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.

Substantious, -cious, adj. Also: substantiouse, -e(i)ous, -ius, substanciouse, -ius, substentious, substancuows. [e.m.E. substauncyous (Caxton), OF substantieux (OED), med. L. substantiosus.]

1. Of a person: Wealthy, prosperous, rich in money and/or land. Passing into: That commands respect; reputable. Also absol. Also transf., of a place and its inhabitants. 1517 Treas. Acc. V 153.
At the lordis, baronis, and uthiris substancius men suld meit my Lord Arran 1517 Yester Wr. 121.
To taxt all vtheris persounis landit or other substantius men 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I xli.
Gif thair deis ony substantious freman within this burght … that the said segistar sall ring his mening but thryse 1532–3 Crim. Trials I i 162.
Ane man havand in his possessioune ane hundreth punds worth of gudis, steilbow and ferm … is haldin and reput ane substancius man 1546 Acts II 473/2.
To send ane substancious man of autorite to the bordouris to see that all thingis be weill and dewlie done 1546 Treas. Acc. IX 40.
All erlles lordes lairdes baronis landit men and substancious yemen, baith to burgh and to lande ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 302.
To find thua or thre of the maist substantius merchandis within the touin to maik yow paiment for the haill commenaty 1566 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 6.
The said William is habill aneuche of persoun & substantious in guiddis a1578 Pitsc. II 119/4.
Substentious 1577–8 Glasgow B. Rec. I 66.
That ewery ane substantious and habill man sall have ane hagbut … and that ewery wtheris … sall have ane lang speir 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 67.
xij d. for the baptisme of ilk substantius mannis barne and vj d. for the simple folks 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 91.
Of ilk native Scottisman … being welthie or substanteous ane rosnobill a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 120.
That nane be receaved upon the inqueist bot substantious men haveing heretadge of their owen 1681 Dumbarton B. Rec. 89.
The burgh is at present under much decay, both as to its former traffique and number of substantious qualified inhabitants 1687 Hector Renfrewshire Rec. II 89.
Substantiouseabsol. 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III 163.
He sall haue bund and oblist to him … tua or thre of the maist substanteous of the said counsale a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 37.
Sir Williame was grittest, maist substantious aud honest of that surnametransf. 1570–1 Conv. Burghs I 17.
Be the occasioun of weris … ane greitt pairt of the burrowis, quhilkis of befoir war riche and substantious, are now becumin vnable and pure

b. Honest (trew) (and) substantious man (etc.), chiefly, or only of non-aristocratic persons with the implication respectable, reputable or prominent, rather than merely rich. Cf. Substantial(l adj. 7.The quot. 1574 Treas. Acc. may properly belong in 2 below.attrib. 1489 Acts II 221/2.
That thare be a trew substancius man maid maister of the mony and cunȝe 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 8.
That na maner of broustaris nor regratouris be tholit within this tovne bot thai that ar kend honest and substancious personis 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 75.
The foyrsaidis persones chossin and suorn vpone the said apprisyng ar honest substancuows men in thayr vse and guddis 1545 Elgin Rec. I 82.
The said Williame hes bene of befoir ane honest, substantious gentleman and nychtbour and sum tyme bailȝe, provest and gyll brother [etc.] 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 221.
It wes bot ressoun that thai that wes honest substantious men suld furnis siluer c1560 Corr. M. Lorraine 442.
I have conducit with ane honest substantious sklaitar that sall beit the hail louging 1574 Treas. Acc. XIII xv.
[All earls, lords [etc.] … of Fife [etc.] … ] with thair honest and substantious houshaldis armit [etc.] 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 26.
They being of the number of 34 persones of the maist honest and substantious inhabitantis of our said burghe cheiff magistrattis and counsallouris thairof 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V 157.
[The council] ordanis Thomas Aikinheid [etc.] … to pas athort all the honest and substantious nichtbouris and borrow fra ilk ane of thame for ane moneth or twa the sowme of ane hunder pund 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 25.
The magistrates … desyre some substanteious, honest men, quha shall sit … in the tollbuithe … to ressaive any lent moniepredic. 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II 161.
That na maner of maltmen … sell ony malt to first to ony parsonis … bot to the burges wyffis, honest wedowis that ar substantious

2. Of persons: Substantial, considerable, in number, power or influence.There is some degree of ambiguity and overlap with the previous sense. 1545 Douglas Corr. 160.
His grace shulde hastelie prepare his substancious armyes … at th' est and west bordres 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 11.
It is necessar to thame for the more sure keping thairof [sc. the Queen's person] to have with thame substantious freindis considering the danger and perill that apperis in this realm 1545 Ruddiman Epist. II 329.
With ane substantious support of men of weir 1545 Wemyss Corr. 6.
That ye addres yow to meit ws … ,with ane gude and substantious cumpany 1565–6 Hist. Fam. Kennedy 12.
Accompaneit with your substantius houshald and kynnismen 1566 Reg. Morton I 16.
Substanciouse 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 33.
[That her majesty should retain] sum substancious force of futemen

b. In substantious maner, with ample provision, amply equipped. 1533 Bell. Livy I 52/7.
Ilk ane of thir pepill began to mak provisioun in the maist riche and substancius maner that thai mycht to invaid vthir 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 38.
Weill bodin in feir of weir in thair maist substantious maner 1578 Anal. Scot. I 294.
Desiring … that ye will nocht faill, with ȝour forces in substantious maner, to be at us at Striuiling 1614 Highland P. III 157.
Thay being more able to prosequute the same in suche substantious maner as is requisite 1643 Proclamation Proclamed Throughout Scotland 3.
All the fencible persons … shall provide themselves … with ammunition, armes, … in the most substantious manner, for horse and foote, with tents and all other furnishing requisite

3. Of a structure, an item of metalwork, etc.: Sound, durable, solidly constructed. 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 395.
Ane substantious brig of fyn aisclar stane and lym with pillaris pendis [etc.] 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 396.
To big agan the said brig … als stark and substantious as we resave the samyn 1540–1 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 547.
[To make for Dundee] ane sufficient and substancious knok with all instrumentis of irnewerk necessar 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 213.
That the said William suld big the … rowme of the Croce … and to mak the wallis thairof substantious 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 52. 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 311.
It is nocht wnknawin to your Lordschips that the new work off the Castell of Stirling is the maist substantious work … withein the same 1594–5 Ayr B. Acc. 184.
[For] ane substantious lok [to the Nether-mill door, 16 s.] 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 256.
His work is generallie aproven … for the most substantious durable and fynest smyth work … within the citie

4. In fig. context: Sturdy, strong. 1640 Baillie Canterb. Self-convict. 98.
Of all the limbs of the masse the most substantious … are … the offertorie, the canon, the communion

5. Of a course of action, remedy, etc.: Ample, sufficient in scope or effectiveness. 1549 Keith Hist. I App. 435.
The Lord Governour and Lordis of Secret Counsall … hes for substantious resistance thairof … offerit thameselfis reddie to defend thair awin auld liberteis 1592 Mining Rec. 74.
The thesaurer mey direct na precept to the cunyehous vithout consent … of the maister of the mynis … Ane substantius ground to mak himself ane havie purs 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I 61.
Quhill sum substantious ordour and overture be maid be the chekker and speciall commissioun gevin to you to that effect 1596 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 175.
We direct the same commissioners … to beseech him for some substantious remeed to all these evils 1604 Stirling B. Rec. I 111.
To do all uther thingis requisite for ane gude and substantious ordour to be keipit and usit during the tym of this present plaigue 1607 Reg. Privy S. VII 539.
The said burgh is in danger … to be ruinated … if tymous and substantious remeid be not provided 1615 Bk. Islay 308.
Will not faill to procure some grite disordour in the yllis, gif a present and substantious course be not tane

6. Of speech, advice, or writings: Full of useful content; sound, worthwhile. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 248.
God … send me sentence to say, substantious, and noble … that my preching may pers your perverst hertis 1525 Douglas Corr. 115.
I mekill mare addettit to ȝoure grace that has laulyit ȝoure self to gif me sa substancius counsale 1535 Stewart 151.
Thocht it be nocht full of eloquence, So that it be substantious of sentence In plane termis, [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7824.
The schiref said fair lady be the rude Ȝour counsall is substantious and gude 1607 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 118.
Thay find in steid of superficiall … inventiones profitable and substantious theologie

7. Of a contract: Legally sound; properly drawn-up. 1546 Misc. Spald. C. II 275.
Gif this said contract … be nocht formell or substancius in it self be the consideratioune and sycht of men of law

8. In weakened sense: Having real worth, important, valuable. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 605.
Lufe is … Maikles with mirth, substantious and serene