1. essence: in philosophy, the essence or reality of something
2. one element of Trinity: in Christian doctrine, one of the three parts of the Trinity
3. essential nature of Jesus Christ: in Christian doctrine, the essential nature of Jesus Christ, in which the divine and the human are believed to be combined
4. settling of body fluid: the settling of fluid in an organ or other part of the body, as a result of poor circulation, in patients kept in bed, and after death
[Early 16th century. Via late Latin< Greek hupostasis "sediment, foundation, essence" < huphistasthai "stand under, support" < histasthai "stand"]
