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 somepotential 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
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
missanthropist commented on the word entelechy
Brawndo.
*ahem* I mean, Bravo!
July 11, 2008
qms commented on the word entelechy
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