quintessence Hear it!

quintessence definition

quintes·sence (kwin tesəns)

noun

  1. in ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth essence, or ultimate substance, of which the heavenly bodies were thought to be composed: distinguished from the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth)
  2. the pure, concentrated essence of anything
  3. the most nearly perfect manifestation of a quality or thing

Etymology: ME quyntencense < MFr quinte essence < ML quinta essentia

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