not very large, strong or important 不大的；不坚固的；不重要的 an insubstantial construction of wood and glue 用木头和胶黏合的简单构造 an insubstantial argument 不充实的论据 an insubstantial meal 不丰盛的一顿饭
- (literary)
not real or solid 非真实的；非实体的；虚幻的 as insubstantial as a shadow 虚无缥缈
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from late Latin insubstantialis, from in- ‘not’ + substantialis (from substantia ‘being, essence’, from substant- ‘standing firm’, from the verb substare).