inessentialadj.n.
/ɪnɪˈsɛnʃəl/ A. adj.
1. Devoid of essence; unsubstantial, immaterial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [adjective]
bodilessa1398
matterlessa1398
unmateriala1398
unbodily1398
immaterialc1450
metaphysic1528
incorporeal1532
incorporate1540
incorporal1551
uncorporal1567
metaphysical1577
unphysical1593
limbless1594
corpseless1596
unbodied1609
immateriate1626
incorporeous1638
uncarnate1646
unmattered1647
incorporificated1651
unembodied1662
unessential1667
inessential1677
unelementarya1706
unelementateda1706
unincarnate1709
immechanical1715
asomatous1731
unincorporate1821
unfleshly1834
ethereal1836
non-material1847
non-physical1856
unincarnated1859
discorporate1888
transubstantial1892
1677 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. IV iv. 237 Of these Names [of the Deity] some are negative, signifying that Superessential Being: as, inessential, without time, independent.
1770 J. Armstrong Forced Marriage v. iv, in Misc. II. v. xi Are you not a ghost then?..as inessential As the vain rainbow?
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab vii. 88 His inessential figure cast no shade Upon the golden floor.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna i. xxv. 13 When life and thought Sprang forth, they burst the womb of inessential Nought.
2. Not essential, not of the essence of a thing; not necessary or indispensable to the constitution or existence of any thing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > [adjective] > non-essential
accidental1387
casual1398
incident1523
accidentary?1549
accessarya1555
chanceablea1557
accessory1563
circumstant1583
advenient1594
adventive1605
adventitial1607
circumstantial1608
contingent1628
adventious1633
incidental1644
accessional1646
contingential1647
non-essential1647
extra-essential1667
attachable1798
dividuous1816
inessential1832
peripheral1902
1832 tr. A. von Humboldt in W. Macgillivray Trav. & Researches A. von Humboldt xviii. 264 To consider man as inessential to the order of nature.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. ii. 50 Ornament is an extravagant and inessential thing.
1886 J. A. Symonds Catholic Reaction in Renaissance in Italy (1898) VII. viii. 6 Details so insignificant as to be inessential.
B. n.
That which is inessential.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > [noun] > non-essentialness > that which is non-essential or accident
accidentala1398
adventionc1475
accident1491
circumstance1599
under-accident1632
contingential1647
modality1647
adventitial1652
extrinsical1652
adventition1661
ornamental1774
inessential1778
non-essential1806
1778 J. Bentham View Hard-Labour Bill §45 in Wks. (1843) IV. 24 An anxious attention to the inessentials and externals of religion.
1825 Eng. Life II. 265 She yields to me in what she terms inessentials.
1902 Daily Chron. 22 Apr. 3/3 If we ignore the inessentials of place, costume, speech and employment, friendship is the same to-day as it has been for a myriad of yesterdays.
1927 Observer 22 May 8 Stripped of its inessentials (which are too roughly handled) his story comes down to this [etc.].
1960 J. Betjeman Summoned by Bells 96 All the inessentials of the Faith.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.n.1677