ousia

noun

ou·​sia

ˈüzēə,

ˈüsēə,

ˈüzh(ē)ə,

ˈüsh(ē)ə

plural -s

1

: true being : entity, essence, substance

2

: hypostasis sense 2a

Word History

Etymology

Greek, from ous- (stem of ōn, present participle of einai to be) + -ia -y

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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