ESSENCE Definition & Meaning

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essence

[ es-uhns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features:
Freedom is the very essence of our democracy.
Synonyms: , , , , , ,
a substance obtained from a plant, drug, or the like, by distillation, infusion, etc., and containing its characteristic properties in concentrated form.
an alcoholic solution of an essential oil; spirit.
a perfume; scent.
Philosophy. the inward nature, true substance, or constitution of anything, as opposed to what is accidental, phenomenal, illusory, etc.
something that exists, especially a spiritual or immaterial entity.

essence

/ ˈɛ��ə�Բ� /

the characteristic or intrinsic feature of a thing, which determines its identity; fundamental nature
the most distinctive element of a thing
the essence of a problem
a perfect or complete form of something, esp a person who typifies an abstract quality
he was the essence of gentility
philosophy
1. the unchanging and unchangeable nature of something which is necessary to its being the thing it is; its necessary properties Compare accident
2. the properties in virtue of which something is called by its name
3. the nature of something as distinct from, and logically prior to, its existence
theol an immaterial or spiritual entity
1. the constituent of a plant, usually an oil, alkaloid, or glycoside, that determines its chemical or pharmacological properties
2. an alcoholic solution of such a substance
a substance, usually a liquid, containing the properties of a plant or foodstuff in concentrated form
vanilla essence
a rare word for perfume
in essence
essentially; fundamentally
of the essence
indispensable; vitally important

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Origin of essence¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English essencia, from Medieval Latin, from Latin essentia, equivalent to esse + -ence

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Origin of essence¹

C14: from Medieval Latin essentia, from Latin: the being (of something), from esse to be

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in essence, essentially; at bottom, often despite appearances:
For all his bluster, he is in essence a shy person.
of the essence, absolutely essential; critical; crucial:
In chess, cool nerves are of the essence.

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Examples have not been reviewed.

This is a fundamental error: Ideologies are not platonic essences, existing unchanged beyond time and space.

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But Ruffin is a skilled observer who saw through the mask to the essence of the man, and he was inspired by the resilience he witnessed.

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He describes his nationalist AUR as a "patriotic party of conservative essence" whose pillars are "Faith, Nation, Family and Freedom."

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That, in essence, explained how the Tideline decided to handle the satire about the fire alarms.

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Taste-wise, it is to summer produce what caramel is to sugar, where time and heat condense its essence into a tart, molasses-like chew.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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