transubstantiate
Change underlying substance
To transubstantiate is to change one substance into another.
The word belongs almost entirely to Catholic theology, where it describes what happens during the Eucharist: bread and wine transubstantiate into the body and blood of Christ while retaining their original appearance.
The noun is transubstantiation.
Outside religious contexts, the word appears rarely and usually with ironic or literary intent: The alchemist claimed he could transubstantiate lead into gold.
Profound shared closeness
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- hostOne receiving guests
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- altarSacred ritual table
mass · liturgy · priest · paten · tabernacle · sacrament · bread and wine · wafer
Profound biological restructuring
- transfigurationExalted change in appearance
- conversionAct of changing states
- changeTo make different
- alterMake a modification
transform · morph · convert · shift · become · radical transformation
Unintended harmful occurrences
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- AquinasScholastic philosopher-theologian surname
- scholasticismRigorous dialectical learning method
- AristotelianOf ancient systematic philosophy
dogma · doctrine · Trent · mystery · miracle · faith · orthodoxy · heresy
Mystical metal transformation
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- base metalsNon-precious metallic elements
- elixirMythical healing draught
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
quintessence · magnum opus · gold · lead · tincture · transformation · convert · change
communion
Profound shared closeness
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- hostOne receiving guests
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
altar · mass · liturgy · priest · paten · tabernacle · sacrament · bread and wine · wafer · holy orders
metamorphosis
Profound biological restructuring
- transfigurationExalted change in appearance
- conversionAct of changing states
- changeTo make different
alter · transform · morph · convert · shift · become · radical transformation
accidents
Unintended harmful occurrences
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- AquinasScholastic philosopher-theologian surname
- scholasticismRigorous dialectical learning method
Aristotelian · dogma · doctrine · Trent · mystery · miracle · faith · orthodoxy · heresy · sacramental
alchemy
Mystical metal transformation
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- base metalsNon-precious metallic elements
- elixirMythical healing draught
hermeticism · quintessence · magnum opus · gold · lead · tincture · transformation · convert · change · metamorphose
transubstantiatesymbolize
Represent through signs
represent · signify · memorialize · stand for · commemorate