noun
essence; true nature; substance; reality
Archaic noun referring to the fundamental nature or reality of something. In modern Japanese, this meaning is usually expressed by 本質 or 実体.
古い文献では、物の地体を論じることがある。
In old texts, they sometimes discuss the true nature of things.
adverb
originally; naturally; by nature; from the start
Archaic adverb meaning 'inherently' or 'from the beginning'. Modern equivalents include 元々 or 本来.
地体、人は善なるものだと古人は考えた。
The ancients thought that people are inherently good.
Common modern adverb for 'originally' or 'from the start', used instead of the archaic 地体.
The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 地 (ground, base) and 体 (body, substance) suggest a meaning of 'fundamental substance', but the word is now archaic.