(Earlier matter subject: see SUBJECT a. 7; cf. F. matière sujette, from c. 1500.) [= SUBJECT a. + MATTER sb.1; tr. late L. subjecta māteria (Boethius), which represents Gr. ἡ ὑποκειμένη ὕλη (Aristotle).]
I. (Cf. ὑποκειμένη ὕλη in Arist. Physics B 1.)
1. The matter operated upon in an art, a process, etc.; the matter out of which a thing is formed.
[c. 1374, 1586. matter subject: see MATTER sb.1 6.]
a. 1542. Wyatt, 7 Penit. Ps., i. 58. Thy infynite mercye wante nedes it muste Subiect matter for hys operatyon.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 343. The Excluding of the Aire; And … the Exposing to the Aire … worke the same Effect, according to the Nature of the Subiect Matter.
1662. Evelyn, Sculptura, 6. Chalcography … an Art which takes away all that is superfluous of the Subject matter, reducing it to that Forme or Body, which was disign’d in the idea of the Artist.
1662. Hibbert, Body Div., II. 106. The infinite Creator … when he made him [sc. man] implyed by the subject-matter out of which she was made, mans soveraignty over her [sc. woman].
1676. Allen, Addr. Nonconf., 101. The whole body of a Nation who are baptized into the Universal Church … are in that respect subject matter of a Church.
1867. Eng. Leader, 15 June, 326. In every process whatever … the subject-matter, the hypostase, is not two instants in the same state.
† 2. The ground, basis or source of something. Obs.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. 28. Let us therefore cherish … the subject matter of so great a publicke and private ornament [materiem ingentis publice privatimque decoris.]
a. 1683. Owen, Disc. Holy Spirit, I. vi. (1693), 88. That God abideth in us and we in him is the subject matter of our Assurance.
II. (Cf. ὑποκειμένη ὕλη in Arist. Eth. Nic. I. iii. vii.)
3. Material for discourse or expression in language; facts or ideas as constituting material for speech or written composition, occas. for artistic representation; MATTER sb.1 9.
[1586. matter subject: see MATTER sb.1 9.]
1702. W. J., trans. Bruyn’s Voy. Levant, v. 12. The Rocks of Scylla and Charybdis, which afforded so much subject Matter to the ancient Poets.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 116. Subject-matter for his satyrical muse, he never wanted.
1854. trans. Hettner’s Athens & Pelop., 89. The Persian wars, which … supplied subject-matter for the frieze of the Temple of Niké Apteros.
1875. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., i. (ed. 3), 43. The subject-matter which literary criticism should most seek.
1893. C. Moore, Mod. Painting, 22. What … has this painter invented, what new subject matter has he introduced into art?
4. The subject or theme of a written or spoken composition; = MATTER sb.1 10.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, Prol. [Menander’s Andria and Perinthia] albeit they differ little in the subiect matter: yet notwithstanding they are vnlike in composition.
1649. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., Introd. iii. 43. A summary Recapitulation … of the chief aime and subject-matter of every book.
1698. M. Lister, Journ. Paris (1699), 107. [A catalogue] is disposed according to the Subject Matter of the Books, as the Bibles and Expositors, Historians, Philosophers, &c.
1751. Labelye, Westm. Br., 105. The Number of Plates proper to illustrate the Subject-matter of each Volume.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, iii. (1847), 36. The subject matters are slowly, and patiently enumerated, without disclosing the purpose of the speaker until he reaches the end of his sentence.
1877. J. D. Chambers, Div. Worship, 377. The subject matter being proper for the Sermon.
5. The substance of a book, treatise, speech, or the like, as distinguished from the form or style; = MATTER sb.1 11.
1633. Prynne, 1st Pt. Histrio-m., III. i. 65. The Stile, and subiect Matter of most Comicall, and Theatricall Enterludes.
1752. Earl Orrery, Rem. Swift, 181. The subject-matter of these pamphlets may perhaps be little worth your consideration; but their style will always command your attention.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, IV. v. 153. Both as to subject-matter and style and method, remote a Scævolæ studiis.
1872. Minto, Engl. Prose Lit., Introd. 23. Had Campbell not been needlessly anxious to isolate the style from the subject matter.
1873. Stud. Handbk. Univ. Oxford, 103. Candidates are expected to be able to translate the Greek text, and to answer questions on the subject-matter.
6. That with which thought, deliberation, or discussion, a contract, undertaking, project, or the like is concerned; that which is treated of or dealt with.
1657. Cromwell, Sp., 21 April. In considering and debating of those things that were the subject-matter of debate and consideration.
1669. Clarendon, Ess., Tracts (1727), 176. Let the law prescribe what it will, and the King command what he will, their obedience to either is not the subject-matter of this vow.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 647. The lords intend to have another conference with the commons on the subject matter of the last.
1740. in Hanway, Trav. (1762), I. I. viii. 33. We communicated to them captain elton’s project, and have received their opinion … on the subject-matter thereof.
1826. Bentham, Humphrey’s Prop. Code, in Westm. Rev. (1826), VI. 466. If the subject-matter be a fractional right, as a right of mine-working,… mention it accordingly. If subject-matters more than one are included in the deed, mention them accordingly.
1850. J. H. Newman, Diffic. Anglicans, I. x. (1891), I. 304. A series of victories over human nature, which is the subject-matter of her [the Church’s] operations.
1865. Mozley, Mirac., v. 135. The individual uses the totally distinct principles of faith and reason according to the subject-matter before him.
1875. Manning, Mission Holy Ghost, xii. 330. There is a difference between the subject-matter of prudence and the subject-matter of counsel.
1875. Digby, Real Prop., viii. (1876), 344. That a witness who had any interest in the subject-matter of his testimony was therefore not a credible witness at all.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Metaph., 532. Those defects of memory that occur with regard to a certain definite subject-matter of our ideas; e. g. the forgetting of proper names.
b. That with which a science, law, etc., deals; the body of facts or ideas with which a study is concerned; = MATTER sb.1 12.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., III. vi. rule iii. § 3. Some laws have in them a natural rectitude or usefulnesse in order to moral ends, by reason of the subject matter of the law.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., Introd. 60. As to the subject matter, words are always to be understood as having a regard thereto.
1818. Hazlitt, Engl. Poets, i. (1870), 1. In treating of poetry, I shall speak first of the subject-matter of it.
1864. Bowen, Logic, xiii. 440. The subject-matter of calculations in the Theory of Probabilities is quantity of belief.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol., i. 52. Articulate speech itself, the subject-matter of philology.
1895. Educat. Rev., Sept., 117. Those studies whose subject-matter is the direct product of intelligence.
c. Law. The matter in dispute.
1843–56. Bouvier, Law Dict. (ed. 6), II. 553/2. Subject-matter, the cause, the object, the thing in dispute.
1849. Cobden, Speeches, 19. Each should be bound to submit the subject-matter of dispute to arbitration.
1888. Weekly Notes, 22 Dec., 246/2. Because the parties had agreed to divide the subject matter of the litigation amongst themselves in a manner not in accordance with their actual title.
