Igama lesiLatini elithi substantia - linguqulelo yegama lesiGrike elithi essence (ousia), kwaye ngesiLatini lichaza umdla wokusebenzisa igama elithi essentia. KwiFilosofi yamandulo, igama elithi substance lithathwa njengegama elibhekisa kwindawo ekufumaneka kuyo izinto zendalo,isiseko sokuqala sayo yonke into (umzekelo, ""ngamanzi"" eThales, ngumlilo we-Heraclitus).