ylem

ylem (ī′ləm)

noun

in some theories of cosmogony, the primordial material substance from which all the elements are supposed to have been derived

Origin: ME < MFr ilem < ? ML hylem, acc. of hyle, matter, orig., wood < Gr hylē

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y·lem (īˈləm)
noun

A form of matter hypothesized by proponents of the big bang theory to have existed before the formation of the chemical elements.

Origin: Middle English, universal matter, from Old French ilem, from Medieval Latin hȳlem, accusative of hȳlē, matter, from Greek hūlē.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.