An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. That of which a thing consists; physical matter or material.
   
2. Physics: A species of matter, commonly homogeneous, that occurs in macroscopic amounts.
   
3. Philo.: That by virtue of which a thing has its determinate nature, which makes it what it is, as distinguished from something else.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.Fr. substance, from L. substantia “being, essence, material,” from substans, pr.p. of substare “to stand under or be present,” from → sub- “up to, under” + stare “to stand,” cognate with Pers. istâdan “to stand,” as below.

Etymology (PE): Zirist, literally “to stand under,” from zir-, → sub-,

• ist “to stand; to be standing, “from istâdan “to stand;” Mid.Pers. êstâtan; O.Pers./Av. sta- “to stand, stand still; set;” Av. hištaiti; cf. Skt. sthâ- “to stand;” Gk. histemi “put, place, weigh,” stasis “a standing still;” L. stare “to stand;” Lith. statau “place;” Goth. standan; PIE base *sta- “to stand.”