quintessence
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia "fifth essence".
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
quintessence (uncountable)
- A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something.
- A pure substance.
- The essence in a thing that in its purest and most concentrated form.
- (alchemy) The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water
- (physics) A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.
Synonyms [edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:model
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
most perfect example of its type
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pure substance
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essence in its most pure and concentrated form
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References [edit]
- quintessence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- “quintessence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
- “quintessence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.