Home

semicorporeal

Semicorporeal, from semi- meaning half and corporeal meaning of the body, is a term used to describe beings or entities that are neither fully physical nor fully immaterial. In speculative fiction and related discourse, semicorporeal describes a state or form that combines tangible, corporeal elements with intangible, energetic, or ethereal components. The term is not a formal scientific category; it is a descriptive label used by authors, gamers, and theorists to discuss ontological hybridity.

In fantasy literature, role-playing games, and contemporary online fiction, semicorporeal entities may retain a partial body,

Semicorporeal is distinct from incorporeal beings, which lack physical substance entirely, and from fully corporeal beings;

manifest
as
a
visible
outer
shell
with
an
inner
non-physical
substance,
or
exist
as
a
blend
of
matter
and
energy
that
allows
limited
interaction
with
the
physical
world.
They
may
be
visible
to
some
senses
but
not
fully
perceivable,
or
able
to
affect
matter
only
in
restricted
ways.
Manifestations
can
be
temporary
or
reliant
on
conditions
such
as
magic,
possession,
or
resonance
with
a
host.
it
occupies
a
middle
ground
between
them.
In
academic
discussions,
the
term
is
used
descriptively
to
explore
concepts
of
materiality
and
form,
rather
than
as
a
scientifically
defined
category.
Related
terms
include
semi-material,
demi-
or
partially
material
entities.