Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

   7. Amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite.

            Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles. --L'
                                                  Estrange.

            I have thoughts to tarry a small matter. --Congreve.

            No small matter of British forces were commanded
            over sea the year before.             --Mi
                                                  --lton.

   8. Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which
      is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess;
      pus; purulent substance.

   9. (Metaph.) That which is permanent, or is supposed to be
      given, and in or upon which changes are effected by
      psychological or physical processes and relations; --
      opposed to {form}. --Mansel.

   10. (Print.) Written manuscript, or anything to be set in
       type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or
       which has been used, in printing.

   {Dead matter} (Print.), type which has been used, or which is
      not to be used, in printing, and is ready for
      distribution.

   {Live matter} (Print.), type set up, but not yet printed
      from.

   {Matter in bar}, {Matter of fact}. See under {Bar}, and
      {Fact}.

   {Matter of record}, anything recorded.

   {Upon the matter}, or {Upon the whole matter}, considering
      the whole; taking all things into view.

            Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse,
            but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
                                                  --Clarendon.