Incorporeal
Adjective
Definition: Not composed of matter; having no material existence.
Synonyms: Immaterial, Spiritual, Ethereal
Antonyms: Material, Physical, Tangible
- Ghosts are often described as incorporeal beings.
- The concept of love is incorporeal, yet it has a profound impact on our lives.
- Think of "in" as negation and "corporeal" refers to the physical body. Incorporeal means not having a physical body.
Etymology:
The term "incorporeal" comes from the Latin word "incorporeus," which is formed from the prefix "in-" meaning "not" and "corpus" meaning "body."
Historical Usage:The term has been used in various philosophical and theological contexts to describe entities or concepts that do not possess a physical form.
Related Idioms:
"Incorporeal property rights"
Explanation:Refers to intangible assets or rights that cannot be physically touched or seen, such as patents or copyrights.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "incorporeal" with "immaterial" or "ethereal."
Explanation:While these terms are related and can be used interchangeably in some contexts, "incorporeal" specifically emphasizes the lack of material existence, whereas "immaterial" and "ethereal" have broader connotations of being intangible or abstract.