quintessence

American  

[kwin-tes-uhns] / kwɪnˈtɛs əns /

noun

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 the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.

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quintessence British  

/ kwɪnˈtɛsəns /

noun

1. the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc

2. an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form

3. (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

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Other Word Forms

• quintessential
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of quintessence

1400–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin quīnta essentia fifth essence

Explanation

The quintessence of something is its perfect, ideal example. Some people say that the quintessence of American cuisine is the hamburger. Vegetarians may beg to differ. Ancient Greek philosophers claimed there were five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and a fifth substance that made up objects in the heavens. This idea was passed down through the ages to Latin-speaking scholars who called the fifth element quintessence — from the Latin words quintus, meaning “fifth,” and essentia, meaning “being.” Eventually, the word’s meaning evolved into our modern definition of an ideal, a potentially heavenly example of something — you know, like a hamburger.

Example Sentences

Some theorists describe the force as a field or fluid pervading the whole universe and give it the name quintessence.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 21, 2023

Their energy reached its quintessence two minutes into the action when Williams took his 7-1 on a breakaway but Michigan State’s Hoggard, at 6-4, rushed in from behind to block the layup.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2022

The quintessence of California’s shoreline is its stark variety, from the gentle beaches of Coronado to the sea stacks of the North Coast.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2021

When I’m writing a novel, adding something to it every day is for me the quintessence of practice.

From Slate • Jan. 18, 2021

The heavens are made out of aether, or quintessence, which is translucent and unchanging, neither hot nor cold, dry nor damp.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• apotheosis