MATE'RIAL, adjective [Latin materia, matter.] 1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; as material substance; material bodies. 2. Important; momentous; more or less necessary; having influence or effect. Hold them for catholics or heretics, it is not a thing very material in this question. In the account of simple ideas, I shall set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. So we say, a material point; a material fault or error; a material fact or consideration. 3. Not formal; substantial. 4. Furnishing materials; as material men. MATE'RIAL, noun The substance or matter of which any thing is made; as, wool is the material of cloth; rags are the material of paper.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI