[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

matter \mat"ter\, n. oe. matere, f. mati`ere, fr. l. materia;
   perh. akin to l. mater mother. cf. mother, madeira,
   material.
   1. that of which anything is composed; constituent substance;
      material; the material or substantial part of anything;
      the constituent elements of conception; that into which a
      notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the
      embodiment.
      1913 webster

            he is the matter of virtue.           --b. jonson.
      1913 webster

   2. that of which the sensible universe and all existent
      bodies are composed; anything which has extension,
      occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body;
      substance.
      1913 webster

   note: matter is usually divided by philosophical writers into
         three kinds or classes: solid, liquid, and gaseous.
         solid substances are those whose parts firmly cohere
         and resist impression, as wood or stone. liquids have
         free motion among their parts, and easily yield to
         impression, as water and wine. gaseous substances are
         elastic fluids, called vapors and gases, as air and
         oxygen gas.
         1913 webster

   3. that with regard to, or about which, anything takes place
      or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated;
      subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling,
      complaint, legal action, or the like; theme. "if the
      matter should be tried by duel." --bacon.
      1913 webster

            son of god, savior of men thy name
            shall be the copious matter of my song. --milton.
      1913 webster

            every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but
            every small matter they shall judge.  --ex. xviii.
                                                  22.
      1913 webster

   4. that which one has to treat, or with which one has to do;
      concern; affair; business.
      1913 webster

            to help the matter, the alchemists call in many
            vanities out of astrology.            --bacon.
      1913 webster

            some young female seems to have carried matters so
            far, that she is ripe for asking advice.
                                                  --spectator.
      1913 webster

   5. affair worthy of account; thing of consequence;
      importance; significance; moment; -- chiefly in the
      phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.
      1913 webster

            a prophet some, and some a poet, cry;
            no matter which, so neither of them lie. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   6. inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything
      disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.
      1913 webster

            and this is the matter why interpreters upon that
            passage in hosea will not consent it to be a true
            story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   7. amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite.
      1913 webster

            away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles. --l'
                                                  estrange.
      1913 webster

            i have thoughts to tarry a small matter. --congreve.
      1913 webster

            no small matter of british forces were commanded
            over sea the year before.             --milton.
      1913 webster

   8. substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which
      is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess;
      pus; purulent substance.
      1913 webster

   9. metaph. that which is permanent, or is supposed to be
      given, and in or upon which changes are effected by
      psychological or physical processes and relations; --
      opposed to form. --mansel.
      1913 webster

   10. print. written manuscript, or anything to be set in
       type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or
       which has been used, in printing.
       1913 webster

   dead matter print., type which has been used, or which is
      not to be used, in printing, and is ready for
      distribution.

   live matter print., type set up, but not yet printed
      from.

   matter in bar, matter of fact. see under bar, and
      fact.

   matter of record, anything recorded.

   upon the matter, or upon the whole matter, considering
      the whole; taking all things into view; all things
      considered.
      1913 webster

            waller, with sir william balfour, exceeded in horse,
            but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
                                                  --clarendon.
      1913 webster
see also:
mother madeira material form dead matter live matter 
matter in bar matter of fact bar fact matter of record 
upon the matter upon the whole matter 

Record >> R Words
Record, definition of term: Record
record_pag1.html

Matter >> M Words
Matter, definition of term: Matter
matter_pag1.html

Record Player >> R Words
Record Player, definition of term: Record Player
record+player_pag1.html

Record Album >> R Words
Record Album, definition of term: Record Album
record+album_pag1.html

End Matter >> E Words
End Matter, definition of term: End Matter
end+matter_pag1.html

Medical Record >> M Words
Medical Record, definition of term: Medical Record
medical+record_pag1.html

No Matter >> N Words
No Matter, definition of term: No Matter
no+matter_pag1.html

Grey Matter >> G Words
Grey Matter, definition of term: Grey Matter
grey+matter_pag1.html

Fecal Matter >> F Words
Fecal Matter, definition of term: Fecal Matter
fecal+matter_pag1.html

Front Matter >> F Words
Front Matter, definition of term: Front Matter
front+matter_pag1.html

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