hypostasis

[hahy-pos-tuh-sis, hi-]

noun

plural

hypostases 

1. Metaphysics.

   1. something that stands under and supports; foundation.

   2. the underlying or essential part of anything as distinguished from attributes; substance, essence, or essential principle.

2. Theology.

   1. one of the three real and distinct substances in the one undivided substance or essence of God.

   2. a person of the Trinity.

   3. the one personality of Christ in which His two natures, human and divine, are united.

3. Medicine/Medical.

   1. the accumulation of blood or its solid components in parts of an organ or body due to poor circulation.

   2. such sedimentation, as in a test tube.

hypostasis

/ haɪˈpɒstəsɪs, ˌhaɪpəˈstætɪk /

noun

1. metaphysics the essential nature of a substance as opposed to its attributes

2. Christianity

   1. any of the three persons of the Godhead, together constituting the Trinity

   2. the one person of Christ in which the divine and human natures are united

3. the accumulation of blood in an organ or part, under the influence of gravity as the result of poor circulation

4. another name for epistasis

Other Word Forms

• hypostatic adjective
• hypostatically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypostasis¹

1580–90; < Late Latin < Greek hypóstasis that which settles at the bottom; substance, nature, essence, equivalent to hypo- hypo- + stásis standing, stasis

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypostasis¹

C16: from Late Latin: substance, from Greek hupostasis foundation, from huphistasthai to stand under, from _hypo- + histanai to cause to stand

Example Sentences

It also stimulated the creation of divine hypostases.

From Project Gutenberg

The three sublime hypostases of the true Trinity were degraded into three attributes; in physical causes the sacred mysteries of religion were attempted to be explained away; its doctrines were corrupted, and its emblems perverted.

From Project Gutenberg

We are accordingly brought before the problem of how this one substance or essence stands to the several entities or hypostases known as faculties.

From Project Gutenberg

The Logos of the Alexandrian was not an hypostasis, or a person, but a divine emanation or spirit; of a nature unconceivable, which hovered over the earth, but never touched it.

From Project Gutenberg

This involved, of course, its hypostasis as the metaphysical reality of supreme importance.

From Project Gutenberg