the seat or place of; any really existing or abiding substance or essence; thing; object; article; (in phil.) the real; the right thing; a valuable or worthy object; object of or for (comp.); goods; wealth; property; the thing in question; affair; circumstance; subject; subject-matter; contents; theme (of a speech etc.); plot (of a drama or poem); (in music) a kind of composition; natural disposition; essential property; the pith or substance of anything; matter