Advertisement
Advertisement
essence
[ es-uhns ]
noun
- 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
/ ˈɛəԲ /
noun
- 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
- the unchanging and unchangeable nature of something which is necessary to its being the thing it is; its necessary properties Compare accident
- the properties in virtue of which something is called by its name
- the nature of something as distinct from, and logically prior to, its existence
- theol an immaterial or spiritual entity
- the constituent of a plant, usually an oil, alkaloid, or glycoside, that determines its chemical or pharmacological properties
- 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 essenceessentially; fundamentally
- of the essenceindispensable; vitally important
Other Word Forms
- -sԳ noun
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of essence1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
Example Sentences
In essence, the message was: there will be no more terrorist attacks if you allow us to torture people.
That order was, in essence, an attempt to rewrite history on race and gender.
There’s a habit of claiming that a portrait means to “capture an essence” or “reveal interiority” concealed within the subject, but I’m skeptical of such assertions.
But the times and our sentiments toward each other always change, whereas the essence of what makes Sherlock Holmes who he is doesn’t.
In essence, it’s a document that guides the investment plan, clearly stating your return objectives and risk tolerance over a certain relevant time horizon.
Advertisement
Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse