Definitions for quintessencekwɪnˈtɛs əns

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

quin•tes•sencekwɪnˈtɛs əns(n.)

  1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.

  2. the most perfect embodiment of something.

  3. (in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be with air, fire, earth, and water the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies.

    Category: Philosphy

Origin of quintessence:

1400–50; ME < ML quīnta essentia fifth essence

quin`tes•sen′tial•ly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. quintessence, ether(noun)

    the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

  2. quintessence(noun)

    the purest and most concentrated essence of something

  3. quintessence(noun)

    the most typical example or representative of a type

Wiktionary

  1. quintessence(Noun)

    A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something.

  2. quintessence(Noun)

    A pure substance.

  3. quintessence(Noun)

    The essence in a thing that in its purest and most concentrated form.

  4. quintessence(Noun)

    The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water

Webster Dictionary

  1. Quintessence(noun)

    the fifth or last and highest essence or power in a natural body. See Ferment oils, under Ferment

  2. Quintessence(noun)

    hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a small quantity; pure or concentrated essence

  3. Quintessence(verb)

    to distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a quintessence


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