Hypostasis

[Gr. and Lat. hypostasis - Gr. hypo, and stasis, a standing, from histemi, to stand.] A standing under; subsistence or substance. (Theol.) This term was used by the Greek fathers to expre the distinct personality of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This term is retained by the Latin fathers, who, like ourselves, had no word which could exactly represent hypostasis, which differs from οὐσία , substance, inasmuch as the latter is used for the divine substance, e ence, or being-that which is common to each of the hypostases, persons, or individual substances which compose the one Godhead. (Alchemy.) By this word was expre ed the doctrine that salt, sulphur, and mercury are the three principles of all material things. (Med.) A morbid disposition in the body; sediment. Hypos'tasize, v . a. To represent as a person. (R.) Hypostatic, Hypostatical, a . Relating to hypostasis; distinctly personal, or constituting a dis tinct substance. H. union. (Theol.) The union of Christ's human nature with the divine, constituting two natures in one person. Hypostatically, adv. In an hypostatical manner. Hypos'tatize, v. a. To attribute distinct personal existence to.