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ˈsubject-ˌmatter
(Earlier matter subject: see subject a. 7; cf. F. matière sujette, from c 1500.)
[= subject a. + matter n.1; tr. late L. subjecta māteria (Boethius), which represents Gr. ἡ ὑποκειµένη ὕλη (Aristotle).]
I. (Cf. ὑποκειµένη ὕλη in Arist. Physics B 1.)
1. The matter operated upon in an art, a process, etc.; the matter out of which a thing is formed.
[c1374,1586matter subject: see matter n.1 6.] a1542Wyatt 7 Penit. Ps. i. 58 Thy infynite mercye wante nedes it muste Subiect matter for hys operatyon. 1626Bacon Sylva §343 The Excluding of the Aire; And..the Exposing to the Aire..worke the same Effect, according to the Nature of the Subiect Matter. 1662Evelyn Sculptura 6 Chalcography..an Art which takes away all that is superfluous of the Subject matter, reducing it to that Forme or Body, which was disign'd in the Idea of the Artist. 1662Hibbert Body Div. ii. 106 The infinite Creator..when he made him [sc. man] implyed by the subject-matter out of which she was made, mans soveraignty over her [sc. woman]. 1676Allen Addr. Nonconf. 101 The whole body of a Nation who are baptized into the Universal Church..are in that respect subject matter of a Church. 1867Eng. Leader 15 June 326 In every process whatever..the subject-matter, the hypostase, is not two instants in the same state.
†2. The ground, basis, or source of something. Obs.
1600Holland Livy i. 28 Let us therefore cherish..the subject matter of so great a publicke and private ornament [materiem ingentis publice privatimque decoris.] a1683Owen Disc. Holy Spirit i. vi. (1693) 88 That God abideth in us and we in him is the subject matter of our Assurance.
II. (Cf. ὑποκειµένη ὕλη in Arist. Eth. Nic. i. iii, vii.)
3. Material for discourse or expression in language; facts or ideas as constituting material for speech or written composition, occas. for artistic representation; = matter n.1 9.
[1586matter subject: see matter n.1 9.] 1702W. J. tr. Bruyn's Voy. Levant v. 12 The Rocks of Scylla and Charybdis, which afforded so much subject Matter to the ancient Poets. 1759Dilworth Pope 116 Subject-matter for his satyrical muse, he never wanted. 1854tr. Hettner's Athens & Pelop. 89 The Persian wars, which..supplied subject-matter for the frieze of the Temple of Niké Apteros. 1875M. Arnold Ess. Crit. i. (ed. 3) 43 The subject-matter which literary criticism should most seek. 1893G. Moore Mod. Painting 22 What..has this painter invented, what new subject matter has he introduced into art?
4. The subject or theme of a written or spoken composition; = matter n.1 10.
1598R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria Prol., [Menander's Andria and Perinthia] albeit they differ little in the subiect matter: yet notwithstanding they are vnlike in composition. 1649Roberts Clavis Bibl. Introd. iii. 43 A summary Recapitulation..of the chief aime and subject-matter of every book. 1698M. Lister Journ. Paris (1699) 107 [A catalogue] is disposed according to the Subject Matter of the Books, as the Bibles and Expositors, Historians, Philosophers, &c. 1751C. Labelye Westm. Br. 105 The Number of Plates proper to illustrate the Subject-matter of each Volume. 1844Kinglake Eothen iii. (1847) 36 The subject matters are slowly, and patiently enumerated, without disclosing the purpose of the speaker until he reaches the end of his sentence. 1877J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 377 The subject matter being proper for the Sermon.
5. The substance of a book, treatise, speech, or the like, as distinguished from the form or style; = matter n.1 11.
1633Prynne 1st Pt. Histrio-m. iii. i. 65 The Stile, and subiect Matter of most Comicall, and Theatricall Enterludes. 1752Earl of Orrery Rem. Swift 181 The subject-matter of these pamphlets may perhaps be little worth your consideration; but their style will always command your attention. 1837Lockhart Scott IV. v. 153 Both as to subject-matter and style and method, remote a Scævolæ studiis. 1872W. Minto Engl. Prose Lit. Introd. 23 Had Campbell not been needlessly anxious to isolate the style from the subject matter. 1873Stud. Handbk. Univ. Oxford 103 Candidates are expected to be able to translate the Greek text, and to answer questions on the subject-matter.
6. That with which thought, deliberation, or discussion, a contract, undertaking, project, or the like is concerned; that which is treated of or dealt with.
1657Cromwell Sp. 21 Apr., In considering and debating of those things that were the subject-matter of debate and consideration. 1669Clarendon Ess. Tracts (1727) 176 Let the law prescribe what it will, and the King command what he will, their obedience to either is not the subject-matter of this vow. 1692Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 647 The lords intend to have another conference with the commons on the subject matter of the last. 1740in Hanway Trav. (1762) I. i. viii. 33 We communicated to them captain elton's project, and have received their opinion..on the subject-matter thereof. 1826Bentham Humphrey's Prop. Code in Westm. Rev. (1826) VI. 466 If the subject-matter be a fractional right, as a right of mine-working,..mention it accordingly. If subject-matters more than one are included in the deed, mention them accordingly. 1850Newman Diffic. Anglicans i. x. (1891) I. 304 A series of victories over human nature, which is the subject-matter of her [the Church's] operations. 1865Mozley Mirac. v. 135 The individual uses the totally distinct principles of faith and reason according to the subject matter before him. 1875Manning Mission Holy Ghost xii. 330 There is a difference between the subject-matter of prudence and the subject-matter of counsel. 1875Digby Real Prop. viii. (1876) 344 That a witness who had any interest in the subject-matter of his testimony was therefore not a credible witness at all. 1884tr. Lotze's Metaph. 532 Those defects of memory that occur with regard to a certain definite subject-matter of our ideas; e.g. the forgetting of proper names.
b. That with which a science, law, etc. deals; the body of facts or ideas with which a study is concerned; = matter n.1 12.
1660Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. iii. vi. rule iii. §3 Some laws have in them a natural rectitude or usefulnesse in order to moral ends, by reason of the subject matter of the law. 1765Blackstone Comm. Introd. 60 As to the subject matter, words are always to be understood as having a regard thereto. 1818Hazlitt Engl. Poets i. (1870) 1 In treating of poetry, I shall speak first of the subject-matter of it. 1864Bowen Logic xiii. 440 The subject-matter of calculations in the Theory of Probabilities is quantity of belief. 1874Sayce Compar. Philol. i. 52 Articulate speech itself, the subject matter of philology. 1895Educat. Rev. Sept. 117 Those studies whose subject-matter is the direct product of intelligence.
c. Law. The matter in dispute.
1843–56Bouvier Law Dict. (ed. 6) II. 553/2 Subject-matter, the cause, the object, the thing in dispute. 1849Cobden Speeches 19 Each should be bound to submit the subject-matter of dispute to arbitration. 1888Weekly Notes 22 Dec. 246/2 Because the parties had agreed to divide the subject matter of the litigation amongst themselves in a manner not in accordance with their actual title. |