quin·tes·sence
(kw
n-t
s
ns)
KEY
NOUN:
- The pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing.
- The purest or most typical instance:
the quintessence of evil.
- In ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French
quinte essence,
fifth essence, from Medieval Latin
qu
nta essentia (translation of Greek
pempt
ousi
) : Latin
qunta, feminine of
quntus,
fifth; see
penkwe in Indo-European roots + Latin
essentia,
essence ; see
essence
