Hylomorphism
Hylomorphism
(also hylemoiphism. Gr. hyle, matter, and morphe, contour, form) A theory that all physical things are constituted of two internal principlesthe one of which remains the same throughout all change and is the passive basis of continuity and identity in the physical world, called prime matter; the other of which is displaced, or removed from actuation of its matter, in every substantial change, called substantial form. See Aristotelianism, Thomism, Suarezianism. — V.J.B.