substratum
/səbˈstrɑ.təm/ noun
Forms substrata
- noun A layer that lies underneath another.
- noun (figuratively) The underlying cause or basis of something.
- noun (linguistics) A substrate.
Synonyms
Etymology
Learned borrowing from New Latin substrātum, nominalisation of the neuter of Latin substrātus, perfect passive participle of substernō. By surface analysis, sub- + stratum.
Webster’s 1913
- noun That which is laid or spread under; that which underlies something, as a layer of earth lying under another; specifically (Agric.), the subsoil.
- noun The permanent subject of qualities or cause of phenomena; substance.
Etymology [L. substratus, p.p. of substernere to strew under; sub under + sternere to strew. See Stratum.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “substratum”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details