hypostasis
/haɪˈpɑstəsɪs/
noun
- The underlying substance or reality of something, as opposed to its attributes or qualities.
- In philosophy, hypostasis refers to the essential nature that underlies all appearances.
- The ancient Greeks debated whether the hypostasis of matter was water, air, or something else.
- For the philosopher, the hypostasis of a thing is its most fundamental reality.
- In Christian theology, one of the three persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) considered as a distinct individual reality.
- The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that each hypostasis is fully God yet distinct from the others.
- Understanding the hypostasis of the Holy Spirit has been a central topic in church history.
- Theologians use the term hypostasis to describe the individual personhood of the Son.
- The accumulation of blood or fluid in a lower part of the body due to gravity, especially after death.
- The medical examiner noted hypostasis in the dependent areas of the body.
- Hypostasis can help determine the position of a body after death.
- In forensic medicine, hypostasis is a normal postmortem change.
Antonyms