v. rare. [f. L. substruct-, pa. ppl. stem of substruĕre, f. sub- SUB- 2 + struĕre to build, erect.] trans. To construct beneath; to lay as a foundation.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. (Bohn), I. 295. The excellence of Europe and Asia are in his brain. Metaphysics and natural philosophy expressed the genius of Europe; he substructs the religion of Asia, as the base. Ibid., Swedenborg, 328. A bird does not more readily weave its nest … than this seer of the souls substructs a new hell and pit.
