quintessence
the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
the most perfect embodiment of something.
(in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.
Origin of quintessence
1Other words from quintessence
- quin·tes·sen·tial [kwin-tuh-sen-shuhl], /ˌkwɪn təˈsɛn ʃəl/, adjective
Words Nearby quintessence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use quintessence in a sentence
That, America, is the quintessence of naturally occurring British-cute.
UK’s No 1 Churchman Doubts Existence of God: The Archbishop of Canterbury Thinks Deep When Running With His Dog | Tim Teeman | September 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe actor is the quintessence of smooth, first as Remington Steele, then James Bond.
Pierce Brosnan’s Life After Bond: From Action Hero to Losing His Daughter to Cancer | Tim Teeman | July 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn recent years, Stoner entered a category of which it soon became the quintessence.
Famous for Not Being Famous: Enough About ‘Stoner’ | Drew Smith | October 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTYes, Holmes was the quintessence of the Victorian rationalism, “the most perfect and reasoning machine that the world had seen.”
“Innocence is the quintessence of the snapshot,” Lisette Model would write.
Preserve this precious quintessence of mercury, which is exceedingly volatile, in a well-closed vessel for further use.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport AdamsThis drama is the quintessence of all that Gorky has, up to this time, written on the "ex-man," whom he has thoroughly "explored."
Contemporary Russian Novelists | Serge PerskyOnly as a subscriber, possessing a numbered set of a limited edition, could one obtain the quintessence of literature.
Bizarre | Lawton MackallThey are the quaint quintessence of conservatism, and will occupy youthful minds menaced by modernism.
Bizarre | Lawton MackallTen beds, and only one occupied, by a freckled, tousled quintessence of fractiousness in a blue wrapper.
Pippin; A Wandering Flame | Laura E. Richards
British Dictionary definitions for quintessence
/ (kwɪnˈtɛsəns) /
the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc
an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form
(in ancient and medieval philosophy) ether, the fifth and highest essence or element after earth, water, air, and fire, which was thought to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things
Origin of quintessence
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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