Main Entry:

quin·tes·sence

Pronunciation:

\kwin-ˈte-s^ən(t)s\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French quinte essence, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, literally, fifth essence

Date:

15th century

1 : the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies 2 : the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form 3 : the most typical example or representative <the quintessence of calm>

— quin·tes·sen·tial \ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl\ adjective

— quin·tes·sen·tial·ly adverb