entelechy

[en-tel-uh-kee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

entelechies

a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality.
(in vitalist philosophy) a vital agent or force directing growth and life.

entelechy

/ ɛ��ˈ��ɛ��ɪ��ɪ /

noun

(in the philosophy of Aristotle) actuality as opposed to potentiality
(in the system of Leibnitz) the soul or principle of perfection of an object or person; a monad or basic constituent
something that contains or realizes a final cause, esp the vital force thought to direct the life of an organism

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Other Word Forms

entelechial adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of entelechy¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin ��Գٱ��𳦳�ī�� < Greek ��Գٱ��é��𾱲�, equivalent to en- en- ² + ��é�� ( os ) goal + é�� ( ein ) to have + -eia -y ³

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Word History and Origins

Origin of entelechy¹

C17: from Late Latin entelechia, from Greek entelekheia, from _en- ² + telos goal, completion + ekhein to have

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Thus the entelechy of the body is the soul.

From

Whence it appears that in the smallest particle of matter there is a world of creatures, living beings, animals, entelechies, souls.

From

It is the gospel of work: our endeavour must be to realise our best self in deed and action; to strive until our personality attains, in Aristotle's word, its entelechy; its full development.

From

The key-word of all is to him the “entelechy” of Aristotle.

From

It was the entelechy of the human body.

From

Entebbe entellus

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