quintessence

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2 Derived terms 1.2.3 References

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

Middle English < Middle French < Mediaeval Latin quinta essentia "fifth essence".

[edit] Noun

quintessence (uncountable)

1. A thing that is the most perfect example of its type.
2. A pure substance.
3. (alchemy) The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water
4. The essence in a thing that in its purest and most concentrated form.
5. The most perfect embodiment of something.

[edit] Synonyms

• paradigm

[edit] Derived terms

• quintessential
• quintessentially

[edit] References

• quintessence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “quintessence” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
• “quintessence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.