a. [ad. late L. supersubstantiālis (Vulgate), f. super- SUPER- 4 a + substantia SUBSTANCE: see -AL. Cf. F. sursubstantiel († -ciel), It. soprassustanziale, Sp., Pg. supersubstancial.]
1. In allusion to, or as a rendering of, late L. supersubstantialis in the Vulgate version of Matt. vi. 11 (translating Gr. ἐπιούσιος, which is now generally held to mean ‘pertaining to the coming day’): Above or transcending material substance; spiritual: esp. in reference to the eucharistic bread.
Cf. Wycl. Bible, Matt. vi. 11. Oure breed ouer other substaunce.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1342/2. That heauenlye and supersubstancyall breadde and cuppe, beyng consecrate with that solemne benediction, is profitable to the lyfe and saluacyon of the whole man.
1550. Veron, Godly Sayings (1846), 78. In ye Lords praier … we say: give us the supersubstancial bread, not this bread that gooeth intoo the body; but that bread of everlastyng life, which upholdeth the substance of our soule.
1555. Cranmer, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. xxx. 236. I have sinned … against men, whom I have called from this supersubstantial morsel.
1609. Bible (Douay), Exod. xvi. comm., It is our way-faring special provision, dailie and supersubstantial bread, til we shal possess the promised land.
1665. Wither, Lord’s Prayer, 110. By preferring the meat that perisheth before that super-substantial Bread of Life which came from Heaven.
1852. J. Brown, Disc. & Say. Our Lord, I. iv. 245. Give us the supersubstantial bread—the bread of life.
1899. Fr. Dolling, in C. E. Osborne, Life, x. The Body and Blood of Christ Himself, our daily supersubstantial bread.
2. Above or transcending all substance or being; SUPERESSENTIAL: chiefly of God.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1339/2. Thys … woorde Godde, signifyeth … not onelye the vnitie of the Godheadde, but also the trinitie of the three persones, and not onely theyr supersubstaunciall substance, but also euery gracious propertie.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIII. lxxviii. (1612), 321. Locall vnlocally each wheare, super-substantiall, who Knows all that was, is, and is not.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 90. They saw a Starre, with five Beames…. 1. Materiall, the Starre in the East: 2. Spirituall, the Starre of Faith, in their hearts. 3. Intellectuall, an Angel in a Dreame: 4. Rationall; the Virgin Marie; 5. Supersubstantiall; Christ himselfe.
1651. J. F[reake], Agrippa’s Occ. Philos., II. vi. 181. Three persons in the supersubstantiall Divinity.
1855. Milman, Lat. Christ., XIV. ii. (1864), IX. 63. He is the Thearchic Intelligence, the Supersubstantial Being.
Hence Supersubstantiality (rare–0); † Supersubstantially adv., in a supersubstantial manner (in quot. in sense 2). So Supersubstantiate v. [after transubstantiate] trans., to make supersubstantial.
1606. Whetenhall, Disc. Abuses Ch. Christ, 18. To supersubstantiat the blessed bread of the Lords Supper into the cursed Idoll of the Popes masse.
1611. Florio, Soprasostantialità, supersubstantiality.
1651. J. F[reake], Agrippa’s Occ. Philos., III. v. 356. Belief which is a true faith, is supersubstantially above all science and understanding conjoyning us immediately to God.
1825. Coleridge, Aids Refl., App. C. (1858), I. 382. Fluids and ethers … to whatever quintessential thinness they may be treble distilled, and (as it were) super-substantiated.
