Noun

Substance, material.

# (physics) The basic structural component of the universe. Matter usually has mass and volume.

# (physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. (Non-antimatter matter).

# A kind of substance.

# Written material (especially in books or magazines).

# (philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.

A condition, subject or affair, especially one of concern.

* (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)

if the matter should be tried by duel

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

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

* Bible, (w) xviii. 22

Every great matter' they shall bring unto thee, but every small ' matter they shall judge.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;

* 12 July 2012 , Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift

The matter of whether the world needs a fourth Ice Age movie pales beside the question of why there were three before it, but Continental Drift feels less like an extension of a theatrical franchise than an episode of a middling TV cartoon, lolling around on territory that’s already been settled.

An approximate amount or extent.

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

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

* (w, Roger L'Estrange) (1616-1704)

Away he goes,a matter of seven miles.

* (William Congreve) (1670-1729)

I have thoughts to tarry a small matter .

(obsolete) The essence; the pith; the embodiment.

* (Ben Jonson) (1572-1637)

He is the matter of virtue.

(obsolete) Inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

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.

(obsolete) Pus.

Noun

The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-26, author=(Leo Hickman)

, volume=189, issue=7, page=26, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= How algorithms rule the world , passage=The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use.}}

An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.

A person or thing exerting such power or action.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw

, title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.}}

(astrology) An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.

(obsolete) The action of flowing in; influx.

* Hooker

God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.

(electricity) Electrostatic induction.