1. (n.) A kind of verbal noun, having only the four oblique cases of the singular number, and governing cases like a participle.

2. (n.) A verbal noun ending in -e, preceded by to and usually denoting purpose or end; -- called also the dative infinitive; as, Ic haebbe mete to etanne (I have meat to eat.) In Modern English the name has been applied to verbal or participial nouns in -ing denoting a transitive action; e. g., by throwing a stone.

abstract noun adherent noun air atom atomic particles axiom brute matter building block center chemical element collective noun common noun component constituent core earth element elementary particle elementary unit elixir essence essential fire flower focus fundamental fundamental particle gerund gist gravamen heart hyle inner essence kernel marrow material material world materiality matter meat molecule monad natural world nature nominal noun noun phrase nub nucleus nuts and bolts physical world pith plenum postulate principle pronoun proper noun quid quiddity quintessence quotation noun sap soul spirit stuff substance substantive substratum the four elements the nitty-gritty unit of being water