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es·sence (sns)
n.
1. The intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something.
2. The most important ingredient; the crucial element.
3. The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things.
4.
a. An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.
b. Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.
c. A perfume or scent.
5. One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated: a neighbor who is the essence of hospitality.
6. Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.
[Middle English
essencia and French
essence, both from Latin
essentia, from
esse,
to be, from the presumed present participle
*essns, *essent- (on the model of
differentia,
difference, from
differns, different-, present participle of
differre,
to differ), created to translate Greek
ousi (from
ousa, feminine present participle of
einai,
to be); see
es- in Indo-European roots.]