quintessence
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quintessence
- /kwɪnˈtɛs.əns/
- /kwɪnˈtɛs.ɪns/
Where it comes from
PIE word
*pénkʷe
From Middle English, borrowed from Middle French, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia (“fifth essence, aether”), equivalent to quint- + essence. "Essence" in this context is a synonym for "element". In pre-atomic/Aristotelian theory, there are four known elements or essences — Earth, Air, Fire and Water — and a putative fifth element (aether), which is considered to be of exceptional superior quality to the other four basic elements.
noun quintessences
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A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype.
As families and kindreds sometimes do; producing, after long ages of unnoted notability, some living quintescence of all the qualities they had, to flame forth as a man world-noted […]
Similar: archetype, epitome, example, exemplar, icon, model, paradigm, paragon, pattern, quintessence, template
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A pure substance.
Similar: distillation, quintessence, simple
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The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.
For vvhat is ſilke but eu'n a Quinteſſence, / Made vvithout hands beyond al humane ſenſe? / A quinteſſence? nay vvel it may be call'd, / A deathleſſe tincture, ſent vs from the skies, / VVhoſe colour ſtands, vvhose gloſſe is ne're appalld, […]
Similar: bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence, gist, drift, guts, gravamen, heart, heart and soul
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The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere.
Similar: aether
- A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.
verb quintessences · quintessencing · quintessenced
- To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.
Translations
Every language
noun most perfect example of its type
| Español | quintaesencia |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 精粹 jīngcuì, 典範 /典范 diǎnfàn |
| Português | quintessência |
| Français | quintessence |
| Deutsch | Inbegriff, Quintessenz |
| Italiano | quintessenza |
| Ελληνικά | πεμπτουσία pemptousía |
| Русский | квинтэссе́нция kvintessɛ́ncija |
noun pure substance
| हिन्दी | शुद्ध śuddh, खरा kharā |
|---|---|
| Ελληνικά | πεμπτουσία pemptousía |
noun essence in its most pure and concentrated form
| 中文 | 精髓 jīngsuǐ |
|---|---|
| Ελληνικά | πεμπτουσία pemptousía |
verb Translations
| Español | quintaescenciar |
|---|
Talk about this word "quintessence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/quintessence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. quintessence. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/quintessence "quintessence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/quintessence.Cite this
@misc{quintessence_2026,
title = {quintessence},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/quintessence},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
