hypostasis

noun hy·pos·ta·sis \hī-ˈpäs-tə-səs\

plural hy·pos·ta·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of HYPOSTASIS

a : something that settles at the bottom of a fluid

b : the settling of blood in the dependent parts of an organ or body

: person 3

a : the substance or essential nature of an individual

b : something that is hypostatized

[New Latin, from Late Latin] : failure of a gene to produce its usual effect when coupled with another gene that is epistatic toward it

— hy·po·stat·ic \ˌhī-pə-ˈsta-tik\ adjective

— hy·po·stat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Origin of HYPOSTASIS

Late Latin, substance, sediment, from Greek, support, foundation, substance, sediment, from hyphistasthai to stand under, support, from hypo- + histasthai to be standing — more at stand

First Known Use: 1590

Medical Dictionary

hypostasis

noun hy·pos·ta·sis \hī-ˈpäs-tə-səs\

plural hy·pos·ta·ses \-ˌsēz\

Medical Definition of HYPOSTASIS

: the settling of blood in relatively lower parts of an organ or the body due to impaired or absent circulation <the face was discolored by postmortem hypostasis>

: failure of a gene to produce its usual effect when coupled with another gene that is epistatic toward it