Diabaterial

/ˌdaɪəbəˈtɪriəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or affecting both material substances and the body or spirit; having properties between physical and metaphysical.

Etymology

From dia- (through, between) + material, or possibly from Late Latin diabaticus (impassable, transitional). Extremely rare term from 17th-18th century philosophy.

Kelly Says

This word barely survives in English—it represents a moment when philosophers were struggling to describe things that didn't fit the strict physical versus spiritual divide that modern science would later create.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.