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quintessence

/kwɪnˈtɛsns/

noun
- 1. the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class: "he was the quintessence of political professionalism" Similar perfect exampleexemplarprototypestereotypepictureepitomeembodimentpersonificationparagonidealbestcreameliteflowerjewelgempickprimelast wordacme of perfectioncrème de la crèmebeau idéal
- ▪ the aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character: "we were all brought up to believe that advertising is the quintessence of marketing" Similar essencesoulspiritethosnaturecoreheartcentrecruxnubnucleuskernelmarrowpithsubstancesum and substanceinformal:nitty-grittyquiddityesse
- 2. a refined essence or extract of a substance.
- 3. (in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.
Word Origin late Middle English (as a term in philosophy): via French from medieval Latin quinta essentia ‘fifth essence’.
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What is the quintessence of food?
The quintessence of something is its perfect, ideal example. Some people say that the quintessence of American cuisine is the hamburger. Vegetarians may beg to differ. Ancient Greek philosophers claimed there were five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and a fifth substance that made up objects in the heavens.

Quintessence - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

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What does quintessence mean?
Accessed 9 Sep. 2024. Middle English quintessence "the substance from which heavenly bodies are formed (according to medieval belief)," from early French quinte essence (same meaning), from Latin quinta essentia, literally, "fifth essence," from earlier quinta, feminine form of quintus "fifth," and earlier essentia "essence"

Quintessence Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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Where did the word quintessence come from?
The earliest known use of the noun quintessence is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for quintessence is from around 1460, in the writing of John Lydgate, poet and prior of Hatfield Regis. quintessence is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin.

quintessence, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictio…

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What is a 5th element quintessence?
This idea was passed down through the ages to Latin-speaking scholars who called the fifth element quintessence — from the Latin words quintus, meaning “fifth,” and essentia, meaning “being.” Eventually, the word’s meaning evolved into our modern definition of an ideal, a potentially heavenly example of something — you know, like a hamburger.

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www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › quintessenceQuintessence Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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The meaning of QUINTESSENCE is the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies. How to use quintessence in a sentence.
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noun. the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc. an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form.
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The quintessence of something is its perfect, ideal example. Some people say that the quintessence of American cuisine is the hamburger. Vegetarians may beg to differ.
dictionary.cambridge.org › english › quintessenceQUINTESSENCE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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noun [ U ] formal uk / kwɪnˈtes. ə ns / us / kwɪnˈtes. ə ns / Add to word list. the most typical example: An American football game is the quintessence of machismo. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Samples and examples. advertisement. aliquot. apotheosis. archetype. benchmarking. cross-section. exemplar. exemplification. flavour.
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There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun quintessence. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
dictionary.cambridge.org › english › quintessenceQUINTESSENCE definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

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noun [ U ] formalus/kwɪnˈtes.əns/uk/kwɪnˈtes.əns/ Add to word listAdd to word list. the most typical example: A football game is the quintessence of machismo. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Samples and examples. advertisement. aliquot. archetype. benchmarking. cross-section. exemplification. flavor. for instanceidiom. forerunner.
www.collinsdictionary.com › english › quintessenceQUINTESSENCE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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quintessence. (kwɪntesəns ) 1. uncountable noun. The quintessence of something is the most perfect or typical example of it. [formal] He was the quintessence of all that Eva most deeply loathed. [+ of] Synonyms: epitome, representation, embodiment, type More Synonyms of quintessence. 2. uncountable noun.