ousia en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈuːzɪə/ (UK)
- /ˈuːsɪə/ (UK)
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía), from οὖσα (oûsa), the feminine present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “I am”).
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often as contrasted to the ‘energies’ (external actions and influences) through which he is manifest.
We could never know God's ousia, but in order to adapt his indescribable nature to our limited intellect, God communicated to us through his activities in the world.
2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 79:
- (uncountable) Essence, being.