Definitions

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

  • noun In the philosophy of Aristotle, the condition of a thing whose essence is fully realized; actuality.
  • noun In some philosophical systems, a vital force that directs an organism toward self-fulfillment.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Realization: opposed to power or potentiality, and nearly the same as energy or act (actuality).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Peripatetic Philos.) An actuality; a conception completely actualized, in distinction from mere potential existence.

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

  • noun The complete realisation and final form of some potential concept or function; the conditions under which a potential thing becomes actualised.
  • noun A particular type of motivation, need for self-determination, and inner strength directing life and growth to become all one is capable of being. It is the need to actualize one’s beliefs. It is having a personal vision and being able to actualize that vision from within.
  • noun Something complex that emerges when you put a large number of simple objects together.

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

  • noun (Aristotle) the state of something that is fully realized; actuality as opposed to potentiality

Etymologies

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

[Late Latin entelechīa, from Greek entelekheia : entelēs, complete (en-, in; see en– + telos, completion; see kwel- in Indo-European roots) + ekhein, to have; see segh- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Late Latin entelechia, from Ancient Greek ἐντελέχεια (entelékheia), coined by Aristotle from ἐντελής (entelés, "complete, finished, perfect") (from τέλος (télos, "end, fruition, accomplishment")) + ἔχω (ékho, "to have")

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Examples

  • The term entelechy which sounds outlandish to us may be replaced by the word realization or actualization and is very close in meaning to the

    A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy Isaac Husik 1907

  • Salmansohn re-defines such difficult concepts such as "entelechy", as your intended seed personality and "mightiest human being self" and "mimesis" as the groundwork for creating vision boards, which I later tried.

    Alyssa Pinsker: How I Lost My Prince Harming And Found Karen Salmansohn 2009

  • The vital factor he boldly designates "entelechy", or "psychoid", and advocated a return to Aristotle for the most helpful conception of the principle of life.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

  • In such a state one has access to the creative, world making place where one's unique entelechy (the essential self) meets the Entelechy of a potential new time, one that gives the details of an evolution in person and society.

    The 'Future of God' Debate Dr. Jean Houston 2010

  • It seems that the book contains only concepts, not people, which, for me, makes it a collection of samples of entelechy, a compendium of incomprehensible ideas.

    Yoani Sanchez: Fidel's Dictionary: A Man's Phrases are Compiled When You Know He's Finished 2009

  • Behind this kind of ethic stands the Aristotelian notion of entelechy: humans have a natural potential to develop rationality and through it acquire virtuous character.

    Guess Who Was At The Party? 2009

  • Borrowing a term from Aristotle, Burke referred to it as a manifestation of entelechy — the tendency of a potential to realize itself.

    enowning enowning 2008

  • Borrowing a term from Aristotle, Burke referred to it as a manifestation of entelechy — the tendency of a potential to realize itself.

    Archive 2008-07-01 enowning 2008

  • He concludes: ...there are four features of development of doctrine that I think to which I think an adequate account must do justice: (1) richness; (2) confidelity; (3) creativity; (4) entelechy.

    Archive 2007-01-01 Mike L 2007

  • He concludes: ...there are four features of development of doctrine that I think to which I think an adequate account must do justice: (1) richness; (2) confidelity; (3) creativity; (4) entelechy.

    Siris on development of doctrine Mike L 2007

  • People talk as though there were a unique DNA for Gen X—what in the nineteenth century was called a generational “entelechy”—even though the difference between a baby boomer and a Gen X-er is about as meaningful as the difference between a Leo and a Virgo.

    It’s Time to Stop Talking About “Generations” Condé Nast 2021

Comments

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  • Brawndo.

    *ahem* I mean, Bravo!

    July 11, 2008

  • I reckon the teacher respects me

    'Cuz he's all smart and intellecky

    And don't call me no fool

    For lovin' my mule

    But sez that we share a entelechy.

    January 15, 2017