Subject and Object
Preserved but no longer current.
In metaphysics the Subject is the ego, the mind, the conscious self, the substance or substratum to which attri- butes must be referred; the Object is' an ex- ternal as distinct from the ego, a thing or idea brought before the consciousness. Hence subjective criticism, art, etc.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Subject and Object” mean?
In metaphysics the Subject is the ego, the mind, the conscious self, the substance or substratum to which attri- butes must be referred; the Object is' an ex- ternal as distinct from the ego, a thing or idea brought before the consciousness. Hence subjective criticism, art, etc.
Is “Subject and Object” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.