hypostasis, n. [L., fr. Gr. subsistence, substance, fr. to stand under; under + to stand, middle voice of to cause to stand. See Hypo-, and Stand.].

That which forms the basis of anything; underlying principle; a concept or mental entity conceived or treated as an existing being or thing. [1913 Webster]
Substance; subsistence; essence; person; personality; -- used by the early theologians to denote any one of the three subdivisions of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [1913 Webster]
" The Council of Alexandria (a. d. 362) defined hypostasis as synonymous with person. Schaff-Herzog." Schaff-Herzog. [1913 Webster]
Principle; an element; -- used by the alchemists in speaking of salt, sulphur, and mercury, which they considered as the three principles of all material bodies. [1913 Webster]
That which is deposited at the bottom of a fluid; sediment. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

hypostasis, n. (pl. hypostases)
1 Med. an accumulation of fluid or blood in the lower parts of the body or organs under the influence of gravity, in cases of poor circulation.
2 Metaphysics an underlying substance, as opposed to attributes or to that which is unsubstantial.
3 Theol. a the person of Christ, combining human and divine natures. b each of the three persons of the Trinity.

Derivative

hypostasize v.tr. (also -ise) (in senses 1, 2).

Etymology

eccl.L f. Gk hupostasis (as HYPO-, STASIS standing, state)

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THESAURUS

hypostasis

abstract noun, adherent noun, air, atom, atomic particles, axiom, brute matter, building block, center, chemical element, collective noun, common noun, component, constituent, core, earth, element, elementary particle, elementary unit, elixir, essence, essential, fire, flower, focus, fundamental, fundamental particle, gerund, gist, gravamen, heart, hyle, inner essence, kernel, marrow, material, material world, materiality, matter, meat, molecule, monad, natural world, nature, nominal, noun, noun phrase, nub, nucleus, nuts and bolts, physical world, pith, plenum, postulate, principle, pronoun, proper noun, quid, quiddity, quintessence, quotation noun, sap, soul, spirit, stuff, substance, substantive, substratum, the four elements, the nitty-gritty, unit of being, water

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ROGET THESAURUS

hypostasis

Substantiality

N substantiality, hypostasis, person, being, thing, object, article, item, something, a being, an existence, creature, body, substance, flesh and blood, stuff, substratum, matter, corporeity, element, essential nature, groundwork, materiality, substantialness, vital part, world, plenum, substantive, substantial, hypostatic, personal, bodily, tangible, corporeal, substantially, bodily, essentially.

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