Material \Ma*te"ri*al\, a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff,
matter: cf. F. mat['e]riel. See Matter, and cf.
Mat['E]riel.]
1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical;
as, material substance or bodies.
The material elements of the universe. --Whewell.
2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of
man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature;
relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts.
3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of
cinsequence; not be dispensed with; important.
Discourse, which was always material, never
trifling. --Evelyn.
I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down
only such as are most material to our present
purpose. --Locke.
4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form,
of a thing. See Matter.
Material cause. See under Cause.
Material evidence (Law), evidence which conduces to the
proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. --Wharton.
Syn: Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous;
essential.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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