hypothesis vs substantive

hypothesis

noun
  • An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation. 

  • Used loosely, a tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem that can be tested by further observation, investigation and/or experimentation. As a scientific term of art, see the attached quotation. Compare to theory, and quotation given there. 

  • The antecedent of a conditional statement. 

substantive

adj
  • Constituting the substance of content rather than its style, and thus always nontrivial. 

  • Of or pertaining to a substantive. 

  • actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment 

  • Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial. 

  • of the essence or essential element of a thing. 

  • applying to essential legal principles and rules of right. 

  • Depending on itself; independent. 

  • of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed 

verb
  • to make a word belonging to another part of speech into a substantive (that is, a noun) or use it as a noun 

noun
  • Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering. 

How often have the words hypothesis and substantive occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )