First Known Use: 1590
Dictionary
hypostasis
noun hy·pos·ta·sis \hī-ˈpäs-tə-səs\
plural hy·pos·ta·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of HYPOSTASIS
1
a : something that settles at the bottom of a fluid b : the settling of blood in the dependent parts of an organ or body
2
: person 3
3
a : the substance or essential nature of an individual b : something that is hypostatized
4
[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
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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
Medical Dictionary
hypostasis
noun hy·pos·ta·sis \hī-ˈpäs-tə-səs\
plural hy·pos·ta·ses \-ˌsēz\
Medical Definition of HYPOSTASIS
1
: 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>
2
: failure of a gene to produce its usual effect when coupled with another gene that is epistatic toward it
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