Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A form of matter hypothesized by proponents of the Big Bang theory to have existed before the formation of the chemical elements.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun physics, astronomy, cosmology In the Big Bang theory, the hot and dense plasma of which the cosmos consisted at the time of recombination in an early stage of its expansion and cooling, when the first atoms formed and photons decoupled, the source of the cosmic background radiation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (cosmology) the original matter that (according to the big bang theory) existed before the formation of the chemical elements

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, universal matter, from Old French ilem, from Medieval Latin hȳlem, accusative of hȳlē, matter, from Greek hūlē.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Resuscitation of Middle English ylem, one of several variants for the Medieval Latin hyle ("matter"), a transliteration of Aristotle’s concept of “(fundamental) matter”, in Ancient Greek ὕλη (hulē, "wood(s), material(s), matter, subject") or πρώτη ὕλη (“fundamental matter”).

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Examples

  • Had we moved the hostages in the early days, when the unfixed ylem in their bodies had not yet learned how to copy human organs, moving them too far away from a boundary would have killed them.

    Orphans of Chaos 2005

  • There are methods to create a disturbance within the deeper layers, which will cause the ejection of larger areas of time – space, more mass-energy ylem.

    Orphans of Chaos 2005

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy in the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    RIHANNSU #3: SWORDHUNT Diane Duane 2000

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy or the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages Diane Duane with Peter Morwood 2000

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy or the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages Diane Duane with Peter Morwood 2000

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy or the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages Diane Duane with Peter Morwood 2000

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy in the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    RIHANNSU #3: SWORDHUNT Diane Duane 2000

  • Some have called it a reaction against the oneness of all matter and energy in the ‘ylem’ of pre-time, before the Big Bang.

    RIHANNSU #3: SWORDHUNT Diane Duane 2000

  • She had come too far for that, and in any event it was wholly underground except for a few wiry palps, hollowed out of the bitter rock by the blunt-nosed ardour of prolapse drills; the repeated nannosecond birth and death of primordial ylem the drills had induced while that cavern was being imploded had seemed to convulse the whole demon womb of this world, but in the present silence the very memory of the noise seemed false.

    Anywhen Blish, James 1970

  • But beyond that, good ylem, Commandant, what difference does it make who comes down the gangway in what order? "

    do you ever read writing? Peter DeWolf 2010

Comments

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  • The original substance of the universe from which all matter is said to be derived. And that includes definitions of strange words.

    February 23, 2007

  • I like my ylem spread extra-thick on white toast with a glass of orange juice. Tasty!

    February 23, 2007

  • I've heard it's an excellent humectant.

    February 23, 2007

  • nevermind... this comment was gross...

    February 23, 2007

  • Before there was genus and phylum

    Or God made adamic asylum,

    Before night and day

    Or man went astray,

    Preceding it all was the ylem.

    April 11, 2018

  • Please do not push your Creationist propaganda on us /s

    April 12, 2018

  • This word reminds me of Elam.

    April 12, 2018

  • Yes indeed, folks. The kettle is at a simmer and I am trying to keep the lid on. If anyone else would care to set this simpleton straight I would be happy for the help.

    April 12, 2018

  • Lol. Fufluns all around I reckon.
    n.b. Said fufluns were spontaneously created from the mysterious yellow matter of the universe, plus leftover coconut from last month's lamington drive.

    April 12, 2018

  • then there's doggospeak's mlem

    April 13, 2018

  • If those lamingtons were made with yellowcake uranium, I think I'll just hold out for a ylemon tart.

    April 13, 2018