Ousia
/ˈuːsɪə/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often as contrasted to the ‘energies’ (external actions and influences) through which he is manifest. uncountable
"We could never know God's ousia, but in order to adapt his indescribable nature to our limited intellect, God communicated to us through his activities in the world."
- 2 Essence, being. uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"We could never know God's ousia, but in order to adapt his indescribable nature to our limited intellect, God communicated to us through his activities in the world."
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía), from οὖσα (oûsa), the feminine present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “I am”).