matter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   that which has mass and occupies space

   physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it

2. 2
   noun

   with negation, having consequence

   They were friends and it was no matter who won the games.

3. 3
   noun

   a vaguely specified concern

   several matters to attend to

4. 4
   noun

   a problem

   is anything the matter?

5. 5
   noun

   written works, especially in books or magazines

   They always took some reading matter on the plane.

6. 6
   noun

   An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.

   Something is the matter with him.

7. 7
   noun

   An approximate amount or extent.

   I stayed for a matter of months.

8. 8
   noun

   Legal services provided by a lawyer or firm to their client in relation to a particular issue.

   Please find attached an invoice for three outstanding matters.

Etymology

From Middle English matere, mater, from Anglo-Norman matere, materie, from Old French materie, matiere, from Latin māteria (“wood”), from māter (“mother”), in which case cognate with Old Armenian մայր (mayr, “cedar”) and մայրի (mayri, “forest”). Doublet of Madeira, mata, mater, matrix, and mother. Displaced Middle English andweorc, andwork (“material, matter”), from Old English andweorc (“matter, substance, material”), Old English intinga (“matter, affair, business”).