Elucidation: A continuant entity that is the bearer of  qualities and a participant in processes. Independent  continuants are such that their identity can be maintained  over time through gain and loss of parts, as well as  through changes in qualities. Source: Robert Arp, Barry  Smith, and Andrew D. Spear: Building Ontologies with  Basic Formal Ontology. The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts  London, England. ©2015 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  ISBN 978-0-262-52781-1, Glossary.  https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/bfo/classes/http%253A%252F%252Fpurl.obolibrary.org%252Fobo%252FBFO_0000004