資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
7. Amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite.
Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles. --L'
Estrange.
I have thoughts to tarry a small matter. --Congreve.
No small matter of British forces were commanded
over sea the year before. --Mi
--lton.
8. Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which
is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess;
pus; purulent substance.
9. (Metaph.) That which is permanent, or is supposed to be
given, and in or upon which changes are effected by
psychological or physical processes and relations; --
opposed to {form}. --Mansel.
10. (Print.) Written manuscript, or anything to be set in
type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or
which has been used, in printing.
{Dead matter} (Print.), type which has been used, or which is
not to be used, in printing, and is ready for
distribution.
{Live matter} (Print.), type set up, but not yet printed
from.
{Matter in bar}, {Matter of fact}. See under {Bar}, and
{Fact}.
{Matter of record}, anything recorded.
{Upon the matter}, or {Upon the whole matter}, considering
the whole; taking all things into view.
Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse,
but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
--Clarendon.