English

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Etymology

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1820s, from earlier German use; earlier hylical (1708). From Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē, matter) +‎ -ic (of or pertaining to).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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hylic (not comparable)

  1. Having to do with, or of the nature of, matter.
    • 1828, “a part of mankind were by original constitution altogether hylic or material”, in The New Jerusalem magazine and theological inspector, page 155:
    • 1840, Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger, translated by Edward Cox, A History of the Church Volume 1, page 133:
      three orders of beings,—the spiritual, physical and hylic natures.

Synonyms

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Noun

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hylic (plural hylics)

  1. (Gnosticism) The basest type of man in the gnostic theologian Valentinus' triadic grouping; a person focused on neither intellectual (psychic) nor spiritual (pneumatic) reality.

Translations

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