| 单词 | subtle matter |
| 释义 | > as lemmassubtle matter subtle matter n. now historical rarefied or weightless matter (supposedly) pervading the atmosphere, the universe, the animal body, etc.; a substance of this nature; esp. ether (ether n. 3a) or the fluid believed to be responsible for electromagnetic phenomena (see fluid n. 2); cf. subtile matter n. at subtile adj. and n. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [noun] > matter or corporeal substance > postulated types of matter subtile mattera1500 subtle matter1660 materia subtilis1665 superatom1937 1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xvii. 122 The Plenists (if I may so call them) do not prove that such spaces are replenish'd with such a subtle Matter as they speak of. 1685 tr. A. Arnauld & P. Nicole Logic iii. xix. 107 Mons. Gassendus was so much the more oblig'd to refute this Hypothesis, as admitting himself this suttle matter which penetrates Bodys. 1723 J. Clarke tr. Rohault's Syst. Nat. Philos. II. iii. v. 150 The subtle matter..is always agitating the Extremities of the little Branches of which every ramous Particle of Oyl consists. 1769 tr. L. Dutens Inq. into Origin Discov. Moderns iii. ii. 198 Descartes..supposes a vortex of subtle matter, of an elliptic form, to invest our globe, and compress it on all sides. 1833 T. Flint Lect. Nat. Hist. 83 The theory of Franklin was, that electricity is an infinitely subtle matter diffused like caloric through all bodies. 1884 Jrnl. Speculative Philos. 18 244 These parts..form an exceedingly fine and subtle matter—Descartes' first element—which fills the interstices between the spherical portions, which are likewise very minute, and constitute his second element.] 1943 Science 17 Sept. 252/1 This he did by postulating that surrounding the earth there is a vortex of subtle matter, or ether, which, by its pressure, provides the effect of gravity. 2006 S. Gaukroger Emergence Sci. Culture 311 As a significant amount of subtle matter is formed..the globules (boules) of second matter begin to be pushed radially outwards through the action of centrifugal force, and the excess subtle matter takes its place in the more central regions, ultimately forming the sun..and the fixed stars. < as lemmas |
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