matter: [14] Matter comes via Anglo-Norman matere from Latin māteria ‘matter’. This was originally applied to the ‘hard inner wood of a tree’, and etymologically denoted the ‘matrix’ or ‘mother’ from which the tree’s new growth came (it was a derivative of Latin māter ‘mother’). The verbal use of matter dates from the late 16th century. Material originated as a derivative of Latin māteria. => material, mother[matter etymology, matter origin, 英语词源]