He is the matter of virtue. B. Jonson.

* Matter is usually divided by philosophical writers into three kinds or classes: solid, liquid, and aëriform. Solid substances are those whose parts firmly cohere and resist impression, as wood or stone. Liquids have free motion among their parts, and easily yield to impression, as water and wine. Aëriform substances are elastic fluids, called vapors and gases, as air and oxygen gas.

Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my song. Milton.

Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge. Ex. xviii. 22.

To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology. Bacon.

Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice. Spectator.

A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;
No matter which, so neither of them lie. Dryden.

And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife. Milton.

Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles. L' Estrange.

I have thoughts to tarry a small matter. Congreve.

No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before. Milton.

Dead matter (Print.), type which has been used, or which is not to be used, in printing, and is ready for distribution. -- Live matter (Print.), type set up, but not yet printed from. -- Matter in bar, Matter of fact. See under Bar, and Fact. -- Matter of record, anything recorded. -- Upon the matter, or Upon the whole matter, considering the whole; taking all things into view.

Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot. Clarendon.

It matters not how they were called. Locke.

He did not matter cold nor hunger. H. Brooke.