Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Wilson (d. 1581), humanist and administrator. After post-classical Latin substantia prima, itself after ancient Greek πρώτη οὐσία (Aristotle Categories).
Definition of first substance in US English:
first substance
noun
Philosophy
A distinct individual thing; = "substance".
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Wilson (d. 1581), humanist and administrator. After post-classical Latin substantia prima, itself after ancient Greek πρώτη οὐσία (Aristotle Categories).