hypostatize
hy·pos·ta·tizetransitive verb
-·tized·, -·tiz·ing to think of (a concept, abstraction, etc.) as having real, objective existence
Origin of hypostatize
from Classical Greek hypostatos ( from hyphistanai: see hypostasis) + -izehypostatize
transitive verb
hy·pos·ta·tized, hy·pos·ta·tiz·ing, hy·pos·ta·tiz·esTo ascribe material existence to.
Origin of hypostatize
From Greek hupostatos placed under, substantial from huphistasthai to stand under, exist hupo beneath ; see hypo- . histasthai middle voice of histanai to set, place ; see epistasis .Related Forms:
- hy·pos′ta·ti·za′tion
noun
hypostatize
Verb
(third-person singular simple present hypostatizes, present participle hypostatizing, simple past and past participle hypostatized)
- To make into, or regarded as, a separate and distinct substance; to construct a contextually-subjective and complex abstraction, idea, or concept into a universal object without regard to nuance or change in character.
- Progressives are wrong to hypostatize their belief in mankind's eternal advance, and to disavow anything that does not fit this preordained vision. - Cardozo Law Review, February 2005
- To attribute actual or personal existence to.
