Hyle
/ˈhaɪ.liː/noun
A philosophical term for matter or the underlying stuff of which things are made.
Did you know?In Greek philosophy, hylē could mean both “wood” and the primal matter of the universe, which later became a key term in Aristotle’s theory of form and matter.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὕλη (hýlē)
“Wood, timber; later, matter or stuff in the broad philosophical sense.”
Classical Philosophy
Greek
ὕλη (hýlē)
“The underlying material substrate of a thing, as opposed to its form.”
Late Latin
Latin
hyle
“Philosophical matter, especially in discussions influenced by Aristotle.”
Middle English / Scholarly English
English
hyle
“A learned philosophical term for matter or substance.”
Modern English
English
hyle
“Rare philosophical term for matter or the material basis of things.”