- matter
- c.1300, "material of thought, speech, or expression," from Anglo-Norm. matere, from L. materia "substance from which something is made," also "hard inner wood of a tree" (cf. Port. madeira "wood"), perhaps from mater "origin, source, mother." Or, on another theory, it represents *dmateria, from PIE root *dem-/*dom- (cf. L. domus "house," Eng. timber). With sense development influenced by Gk. hyle, of which it was the equivalent in philosophy. Meaning "substance of which physical objects are made" is attested from mid-14c. That of "grounds, reason, or cause for something" also is first recorded mid-14c. The verb meaning "to be of importance or consequence" is from 1580s. What is the matter "what concerns (someone)" is attested from mid-15c.