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ock by a glacier passing over it; the striæ on the surface of a shell; a stria of nervous matter in the brain.

Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash. Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write. Dryden.

Make choice of a subject, beautiful and noble, which . . . shall afford an ample field of matter wherein to expatiate. Dryden. The unhappy subject of these quarrels. Shak.

The matter or thought presented for consideration in some statement or discussion; that which is made the object of thought or study. As to the subject-matter, words are always to be understood as having a regard thereto. Blackstone. As science makes progress in any subject-matter, poetry recedes from it. J. H. Newman.…

An agreement by which parties engage to submit any matter of controversy between them to the decision of arbitrators. Wharton (Law Dict.). Bouvier.

Inherent; as, qualities subsistent in matter.

Body; matter; material of which a thing is made; hence, substantiality; solidity; firmness; as, the substance of which a garment is made; some textile fabrics have little substance.

A tangled mass of floating vegetal matter obstructing navigation. [Central Africa]

l to the wants or demands of. Spenser. Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Deut. iii. 26.

obtained from the wool of sheep, consisting largely of potash mixed with fatty and earthy matters. It is used as a source of potash and also for the manufacture of gas.

Being above, or superior to, matter.

; to be added; to take place; to happen. Such a mutual gravitation can never supervene to matter unless impressed by divine power. Bentley. A tyrany immediately supervened. Burke.

The matter produced by suppuration; pus.

Disgust caused by excess; satiety. Sir P. Sidney. Matter and argument have been supplied abundantly, and even to surfeit. Burke.

Matter in pleading which is not necessary or relevant to the case, and which may be rejected.

ent, colorless, acid liquid with a peculiar odor, containing some fatty acids and mineral matter; perspiration. See Perspiration. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.

To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air.

To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a bladder swells by inflation.

An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.

A proteid substance (acid albumin) formed from the albuminous matter of muscle by the action of dilute acids; -- formerly called musculin. See Acid albumin, under Albumin.