Existents

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Relating to entities that have measurable reality or presence in the universe; pertaining to beings or phenomena that are currently in existence; describing things that hold a tangible status in the realm of reality
  2. Concerning those aspects or items that are recognized as having actual presence or being; involving creatures or objects that manifest in the physical or abstract sense; referring to elements that are acknowledged to be present or operating
  3. Pertaining to individuals or objects that are acknowledged to occupy space or time; involving beings or items that can be identified as having a current state of being; describing things that exist in the framework of reality

Etymology: The noun in question traces its roots to the Latin verb "existere," which means "to stand forth" or "to emerge." This verb itself is a combination of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out of" or "from," and "sistere," meaning "to cause to stand" or "to set." Over time, "existere" evolved to signify the notion of coming into being or having actual being in the world. From Latin, the concept passed into Late Latin as "existentia," referring to the state of existing or being present. This term was adopted into French as "existent," a participle form used to describe something that exists, and then into English in the late medieval or early modern period. The noun form "existent" came to be used to describe entities or beings that have actual existence. In English, adding the plural "-s" to "existent" yields "existents," a somewhat formal or philosophical term referring to things that exist. It is particularly common in philosophical discourse to denote concrete beings or entities as opposed to abstract concepts or mere possibilities. The term emphasizes the fact of being or presence in reality. Though the root idea is straightforward—something that exists—the word carries a weight from its philosophical usage, distinguishing mere potentiality from actual being. It entered English usage likely in the 17th or 18th century as part of the blossoming of metaphysical vocabulary during that era.