quintessence

noun

quin·tes·sence kwin-ˈte-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce quintessence (audio)

: the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies

: the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form

: the most typical example or representative

the quintessence of calm

Did you know?

Long ago, when people believed that the earth was made up of four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—they thought the stars and planets were made up of yet another element. In the Middle Ages, people called this element by its Medieval Latin name, quinta essentia, literally, "fifth essence." Our forebears believed the quinta essentia was essential to all kinds of matter, and if they could somehow isolate it, it would cure all disease. We have since given up on that idea, but we kept quintessence, the offspring of quinta essentia, as a word for the purest essence of a thing. Some modern physicists have given quintessence a new twist—they use it to refer to a form of the dark energy believed to make up almost 70 percent of the energy in the observable universe.

Example Sentences

the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity

Recent Examples on the Web To celebrate the Domaine, Lancôme has introduced a special edition Mille et Une Roses (1001 Roses) fragrance, created by perfumer Louise Turner to capture the quintessence of this glorious and significant flower.

April Long, Town & Country, 26 Aug. 2022 Her volume is the quintessence of the young Los Angeles poet, who strode to a lectern at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day 2021 and reminded us, for a glorious moment, what the other side of sorrow felt like.

Lynell George, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2022 These two ancient codgers are the quintessence of creepy.

Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2022 Material quality throughout is first rate, heightening the interior’s visual simplicity that is the very quintessence of luxury.

Tribune News Service, cleveland, 11 Dec. 2021 For Dole, extending a hand to a political opponent had become the quintessence of patriotism.

Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2021 Myers lives, of course, being the very quintessence of evil.

Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 13 Oct. 2021 The quintessence of California’s shoreline is its stark variety, from the gentle beaches of Coronado to the sea stacks of the North Coast.

Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2021 For me, the Velvet Underground has always been the quintessence of Downtown, that shadowland between the financial district and 14th Street in lower Manhattan.

Kyle Smith, National Review, 6 Oct. 2021 See More

单词	quintessences
释义	quintessence noun quin·tes·sence kwin-ˈte-sᵊn(t)s 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 Did you know? Long ago, when people believed that the earth was made up of four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—they thought the stars and planets were made up of yet another element. In the Middle Ages, people called this element by its Medieval Latin name, quinta essentia, literally, "fifth essence." Our forebears believed the quinta essentia was essential to all kinds of matter, and if they could somehow isolate it, it would cure all disease. We have since given up on that idea, but we kept quintessence, the offspring of quinta essentia, as a word for the purest essence of a thing. Some modern physicists have given quintessence a new twist—they use it to refer to a form of the dark energy believed to make up almost 70 percent of the energy in the observable universe. Synonyms acme apotheosis beau ideal byword classic epitome exemplar ideal perfection See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity Recent Examples on the Web To celebrate the Domaine, Lancôme has introduced a special edition Mille et Une Roses (1001 Roses) fragrance, created by perfumer Louise Turner to capture the quintessence of this glorious and significant flower. April Long, Town & Country, 26 Aug. 2022 Her volume is the quintessence of the young Los Angeles poet, who strode to a lectern at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day 2021 and reminded us, for a glorious moment, what the other side of sorrow felt like. Lynell George, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2022 These two ancient codgers are the quintessence of creepy. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2022 Material quality throughout is first rate, heightening the interior’s visual simplicity that is the very quintessence of luxury. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 11 Dec. 2021 For Dole, extending a hand to a political opponent had become the quintessence of patriotism. Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2021 Myers lives, of course, being the very quintessence of evil. Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 13 Oct. 2021 The quintessence of California’s shoreline is its stark variety, from the gentle beaches of Coronado to the sea stacks of the North Coast. Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2021 For me, the Velvet Underground has always been the quintessence of Downtown, that shadowland between the financial district and 14th Street in lower Manhattan. Kyle Smith, National Review, 6 Oct. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Middle French quinte essence, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, literally, fifth essence First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing quintessence the quintessence the quintessence quintessences noun plural of quintessence 1 as in perfections the most perfect type or example the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance perfections manifestations classics ideals incarnations zeniths acmes models epitomes bywords apotheoses ultimates exemplars beau ideals archetypes standards paradigms prototypes avatars heights paragons personifications abstracts embodiments incorporations last words benchmarks meridians touchstones criteria embodiers criterions nonpareils yardsticks 2 as in essences the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity Synonyms & Similar Words essences substances natures essentialities quiddities souls beings manifestations spirits hearts attributes properties stuff centers aspects cores incarnations features personifications piths embodiments kernels marrows keynotes epitomes gists seats nubs alpha and omegas
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quintessence

noun

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing quintessence

noun