Part 6887

<note>&hand; <i>Matter</i> is usually divided by philosophical writers into three kinds or classes: <i>solid</i>, <i>liquid</i>, and <i>a\'89riform</i>. <i>Solid</i> substances are those whose parts firmly cohere and resist impression, as wood or stone. <i>Liquids</i> have free motion among their parts, and easily yield to impression, as water and wine. <i>A\'89riform</i> substances are elastic fluids, called <i>vapors</i> and <i>gases</i>, as air and oxygen gas.</note>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>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.</def> "If the <i>matter</i> should be tried by duel."

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name Shall be the copious <b>matter</b> of my song. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Every great <b>matter</b> they shall bring unto thee, but every small <b>matter</b> they shall judge. <i>Ex. xviii. 22.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.</def>

<blockquote>To help the <b>matter</b>, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Some young female seems to have carried <b>matters</b> so far, that she is ripe for asking advice. <i>Spectator.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; -- chiefly in the phrases <i>what matter</i> ? <i>no matter</i>, and the like.</def>

<blockquote>A prophet some, and some a poet, cry; No <b>matter</b> which, so neither of them lie. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.</def>

<blockquote>And this is the <b>matter</b> why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<hr> <page="903"> Page 903<p>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite.</def>

<blockquote>Away he goes, . . . a <b>matter</b> of seven miles. <i>L' Estrange.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I have thoughts to tarry a small <b>matter</b>. <i>Congreve.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>No small <b>matter</b> of British forces were commanded over sea the year before. <i>Mi</i></blockquote>

<i>lton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Metaph.)</fld> <def>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 <i>form</i>.</def>

<i>Mansel.</i>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Print.)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<cs><col>Dead matter</col> <fld>(Print.)</fld>, <cd>type which has been used, or which is not to be used, in printing, and is ready for distribution.</cd> -- <col>Live matter</col> <fld>(Print.)</fld>, <cd>type set up, but not yet printed from.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Matter in bar</col>, <col>Matter of fact</col></mcol>. <cd>See under <er>Bar</er>, and <er>Fact</er>.</cd> -- <col>Matter of record</col>, <cd>anything recorded.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Upon the matter</col>, &or; <col>Upon the whole matter</col></mcol>, <cd>considering the whole; taking all things into view.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, <b>upon the whole matter</b>, equal in foot. <i>Clarendon.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Matter</h1> <Xpage=903>

<hw>Mat"ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Mattered</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Mattering</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To be of importance; to import; to signify.</def>

<blockquote>It <b>matters</b> not how they were called. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark> "Each slight sore <i>mattereth</i>."