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Material


MATE'RIAL, adjective [Latin materia, matter.]

1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; as material substance; material bodies.

2. Important; momentous; more or less necessary; having influence or effect.

Hold them for catholics or heretics, it is not a thing very material in this question.

In the account of simple ideas, I shall set down only such as are most material to our present purpose.

So we say, a material point; a material fault or error; a material fact or consideration.

3. Not formal; substantial.

4. Furnishing materials; as material men.

MATE'RIAL, noun The substance or matter of which any thing is made; as, wool is the material of cloth; rags are the material of paper.