1. A hypothetical force or fluid once believed by some to permeate all matter and account for various phenomena such as magnetism and mesmerism.
Usage: archaic; pseudoscience; also spelled 'od' or 'odyl'

Examples

• In the 19th century, some researchers theorized that odyle was responsible for magnetic attraction.
• The concept of odyle was popular among mesmerists and alternative medicine practitioners of that era.
• Modern science has rejected the notion of odyle as an explanatory force in physics.
• Odyle was sometimes invoked to explain phenomena that are now understood through electromagnetism.