prima materia

noun

The primitive formless base of all matter, which is the starting material required for the magnum opus and the creation of the philosopher's stone.

OriginLatin prīma māteria →
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Meanings

nounprima materia (uncountable)
  1. uncountablealchemyThe primitive formless base of all matter, which is the starting material required for the magnum opus and the creation of the philosopher's stone.

    The alchemist's initial encounter with the prima materia is characterized by feelings of frustration, bewilderment, disassociation and disintegration.

    1976, Johannes Fabricius, Alchemy: The Medieval Alchemists and Their Royal Art

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
materia prima

Origin

  1. Latinprīma māteria“first matter”
  2. Englishprima materia

From Latin prīma māteria (“first matter”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

prima materia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prima%20materia

MLA

“prima materia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prima%20materia. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prima materia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prima%20materia.

Source: prima materia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.