substantiate (verb) - to support with evidence or show to be true; to embody or give form to [suhb-stan-shee-ayt]
BREAKDOWN: SUB- (under) + STAN- (stand, be firm) + -IATE (to make)
substantiation is the act of proving, verifying, or supporting a thing
unsubstantiated means lacking lacks sufficient evidence or data
See also: substantive
“That’s how it works: someone important believes in us, loudly and with conviction and against all substantiation, and over time, we begin to believe, too—not in our shot at perfection, mind you, but in the good enough version of us that they have reflected.” —Kelly Corrigan
