hyle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Synonym of matter, physical substance.
  2. Synonym of protomatter, the first matter of the cosmos from which the four elements arose according to Empedocles and Aristotle.

Word forms

hyle hile hyla ylem

Etymology

From Medieval Latin hyle, from Ancient Greek ὕλη (húlē, “wood, matter”), particularly in Aristotle as πρώτη ὕλη (prṓtē húlē, “protomatter, fundamental undifferentiated matter”).

Synonyms

matter physical substance protomatter

Related words

Derived words

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