- Material
- Material Ma*te"ri*al, a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff,
matter: cf. F. mat['e]riel. See {Matter}, and cf.
{Mat['E]riel}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical;
as, material substance or bodies.
[1913 Webster]
The material elements of the universe. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the {mental} or {moral} nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts. [1913 Webster]
3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant. [1913 Webster]
Discourse, which was always material, never trifling. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]
I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See {Matter}. [1913 Webster]
{Material cause}. See under {Cause}.
{Material evidence} (Law), evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
