esse

American  

[es-se, es-ee] / ˈɛs sɛ, ˈɛs i /

noun

Latin.

1. being; existence.

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esse British  

/ ˈɛsɪ /

noun

1. existence

2. essential nature; essence

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Usage

What is esse? Esse refers to existence or essence. Esse means that something has a physical form or is not imaginary or fictional. It exists, as in During an existential crisis, a man may question life itself and even doubt the esse of reality. Esse can also mean essence. It is the very nature of something or its defining quality, as in Freedom and choice are the esse of our democracy. Example: The priest gave a sermon in which he said that humanity’s existence, our esse, is a gift from God.

Etymology

Origin of esse

C17: from Latin: to be

Example Sentences

Faz cerca de três anos que, quase diariamente, Josiel repete esse ritual de pesagem e medição para monitorar os estoques de peixes na terra indígena dos Juruna.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 5, 2023

“Guten Tag, Roman. Ich habe viele Toblerones gegessen vier insgesamt. Ich habe vier weissen ubrig, weil ich die weissen nicht gerne esse und habe die dunklen lieber.”

From The Guardian • May 28, 2021

“Eu não tinha esse ‘amor de filha’”, ela confessou.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2017

There’s Berkeley’s esse est percipi, the more radical claim that behind appearances lurk more appearances, that objects are made not of atoms but of thoughts.

From Scientific American • Jan. 31, 2014

He stood above me, held the book aloft, and in a loud, even piercing tenor, declaimed: “Hoc anno, servus nomine Eunis qui a paucis esse magus dicebatur in dominos suos coortus est.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson