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quintessence

Pronunciation: /kwɪnˈtɛs(ə)ns/
Definition of quintessence

noun

  • 1the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class:he was the quintessence of political professionalism
  • the aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character:we were all brought up to believe that advertising is the quintessence of marketing
  • 2a refined essence or extract of a substance.
  • 3(in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.

Origin:

late Middle English (as a term in philosophy): via French from medieval Latin quinta essentia 'fifth essence'

quintessence in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of quintessence in the US English dictionary

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