substruction

[ suhb-struhk-shuhn ]

noun

1. a foundation or substructure.

Other Words From

• sub·struction·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of substruction¹

1615–25; < Latin substructiōn- (stem of substructiō ) foundation, equivalent to substruct ( us ), past participle of substruere to lay a foundation ( sub- sub- + struc-, variant stem of struere to arrange, put in order + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The remains are interesting, though they do little more than show perfectly the substruction and plan of the ancient building.

From Project Gutenberg

Substance here has its etymological sense, and is the same word in Greek and English, meaning basis, foundation, support, or substruction.

From Project Gutenberg

This may indeed be seriously avowed by some, who are so walled up in old prejudice and presumption that they really have no look out; who, because a thing has been long established, mistake its artificial substruction of crumbling materials for the natural rock; and it will be pretended by others, who think the bravado of asserting the impossibility of the overthrow may be a good policy for deterring the attempt.

From Project Gutenberg

But upon the table-lands they used stone instead of adobe or brick, and at Persepolis, raised, for the substruction of their palaces, an immense platform of massive masonry, which is one of the most wonderful monuments of the world's ancient builders.

From Project Gutenberg

Half-veiling the vast substruction of rough, brown stone—line upon line of successive ages of builders—the trim, old-fashioned garden walks, under their closely-woven walls of dark glossy foliage, test of long and careful cultivation, wound gradually, among choice trees, statues and fountains, distinct and sparkling in the full morning sunlight, to the richly tinted mass of pavilions and corridors above, centering in the lofty, white-marble dwelling-place of Apollo himself.

From Project Gutenberg