Sŭb/sti-tū'tion, n.
n. [Fr. substitution, Pr. substitutio, sustitucio, Sp. substitucion, It. sostituzione, sostituzione, Lat. substitutio.]
Sense 1. The act of substituting, or putting one person or thing in the place of another; as, the substitution of an agent, attorney, or representative, to act for one in his absence; the substitution of bank notes for gold and silver, as a circulating medium.
Sense 2. The state of being substituted for another person or thing.
Sense 3. (Gram.) Syllepsis, or the use of one word for another.
Sense 4. (Law.) The designation of a person in a will, to take a devise or legacy, either on failure, by incapacity or unwillingness to accept, of a former devisee or legatee, or after him; subrogation. Bouvier.
Sense 5. (Theol.) The doctrine that Christ suffered vicariously, being substituted, as it were, for the sinner, and that his sufferings were expiatory.
Sense 6. (Mil.) A person paid to serve in the army or militia, in the place of another person previously drawn or chosen. Simmonds.
Theory of substitutions. (Chem.) See METALEPSY.