supersubstantial

adjective

More than substantial, transcending all substance; spiritual.

OriginLatin supersubstantialis →
Scrabble 20
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectivesupersubstantial (not comparable)
  1. not comparableMore than substantial, transcending all substance; spiritual.

    Give us the supersubstantial bread—the bread of life.

    1852, John Brown, Discourse & Sayings our Lord, I. iv. 245
    1 more example

    That heauenlye and supersubstancyall breadde and cuppe, beyng consecrate with that solemne benediction, is profitable to the lyfe and saluacyon of the whole man.

    1534, Thomas More, A Treatise on the Passion

Origin

  1. Latinsupersubstantialis
  2. Englishsupersubstantial

From super- + substantial, after Latin supersubstantialis used by Jerome to render Ancient Greek ἐπιούσιος (epioúsios) in the Lord's Prayer. Introduced in English (where ἐπιούσιος is otherwise rendered as "daily") by Thomas More in order to make a connection of the "daily bread" of the Lord's Prayer and the "heavenly and supersubstantial" bread of the eucharist.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Indonesian rohaniah
  • rohaniahMore than substantial; spiritual
Malay rohaniah
  • rohaniahMore than substantial; spiritual
Cite this entry
APA

supersubstantial. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supersubstantial

MLA

“supersubstantial.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supersubstantial. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “supersubstantial,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supersubstantial.

Source: supersubstantial on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.