substantialize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to treat an abstraction, relation, or quality as an independently existing substance or thing

   The argument must not substantialize logical propositions as separate entities.

2. 2
   verb

   to give concrete form or actual substance to something

   The prototype substantialized what had previously been only an idea.

Formed from substantial + -ize. In philosophy it often means reifying an abstraction: treating a quality or relation as though it were a self-standing substance.

Topics