vastestoffelijk

Vastestoffelijk is a Dutch adjective that translates to "corporeal" or "material" in English. It is used to describe things that have a physical body or form, as opposed to being spiritual, abstract, or ethereal. The term is often employed in philosophical or theological discussions to differentiate between the tangible world and the intangible realm of ideas, spirits, or the divine.

The word itself is a compound of "vast" meaning "body" and "stoffelijk" meaning "material" or "substance." Thus, vastestoffelijk literally means "having a bodily substance." It emphasizes the physical presence and tangible nature of an object or being. For instance, a rock is vastestoffelijk, while a thought is not.

In certain contexts, vastestoffelijk can also imply something that is earthly or mundane, as opposed to heavenly or transcendent. This usage highlights the contrast between the physical reality we experience and a higher, non-material existence. The concept is fundamental in understanding dualistic philosophies that posit a separation between mind and body, or spirit and matter.