quintessential

1 of 2

adjective

quin·tes·sen·tial ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl How to pronounce quintessential (audio)

: perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing

Jerry's your quintessential streetwise New Yorker …

Kai Wright

This is the quintessential Los Angeles restaurant, casual but never frumpy, lively but not overheated …

Harvey Steiman

Marx was the quintessential intellectual, remarkably detached from the real world.

John Steele Gordon

: being a quintessence

His very faults were middling … It was not in his nature to be superlative in anything; unless, indeed, he was superlatively middling, the quintessential extract of mediocrity.

George Eliot

quintessentially adverb

It is commonly accepted … that the rocking chair was an American invention, perhaps the most quintessentially American furniture form ever invented.

Linda Rosenkrantz

There's no occupation more quintessentially macho than that of private detective.

Cynthia Crossen

quintessential

2 of 2

noun

plural quintessentials

: a quintessential element : something that is a typical part or pure example

—usually plural

The quintessentials—ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard—that characterize classic American barbecue sauce can be found in this dish.

Betty RosbottomThe quintessentials of a culture become all the more noticeable and absorbing if they are perceived as in danger of disappearing or as an obstacle to progress that must disappear.

Steve J. Stern

Did you know?

Quintessential and the Elements

The philosophers and scientists of the ancient world and the Middle Ages believed that the world we inhabit was entirely made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Aristotle added a fifth element, the aether or ether, by which he meant the material that fills the rest of space, mostly invisibly but sometimes taking the form of stars and planets. Many writers described the element as a kind of invisible light or fire. In the Middle Ages, it was referred to as the quinta essentia ("fifth element"). It isn't surprising that the quinta essentia came to stand for anything so perfect that it seemed to surpass the limitations of earth. Today we generally use quintessential rather freely to describe just about anything that represents the best of its kind.

quintessential

adjective

as in classic

constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

classic
exemplary
perfect
archetypal
definitive
unique
superb
paradigmatic
excellent
wonderful
archetypical
model
great
textbook
terrific
prime
exceptional
imitable
ideal
special
fantastic
marvelous
fine
nonpareil
stellar
flawless
fabulous
superlative
absolute
splendid
marvellous
superior
top
impeccable
sensational
primo
dandy
groovy
choice
crackerjack
capital
unsurpassed
grand
nifty
sterling
par excellence
swell
fancy
first-rate
banner
wizard
top-notch
first-class
keen
tip-top
jim-dandy
bang-up
A-OK
high-grade
A1

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

poor
bad
typical
unsatisfactory
substandard
wretched
vile
normal
ordinary
execrable
atrocious
average
inadequate
representative
inferior
disappointing
deficient
low-grade
failed
mediocre
second-rate
second-class

单词	quintessential
释义	quintessential 1 of 2 adjective quin·tes·sen·tial ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl : perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing Jerry's your quintessential streetwise New Yorker … Kai Wright This is the quintessential Los Angeles restaurant, casual but never frumpy, lively but not overheated … Harvey Steiman Marx was the quintessential intellectual, remarkably detached from the real world. John Steele Gordon : being a quintessence His very faults were middling … It was not in his nature to be superlative in anything; unless, indeed, he was superlatively middling, the quintessential extract of mediocrity. George Eliot quintessentially adverb It is commonly accepted … that the rocking chair was an American invention, perhaps the most quintessentially American furniture form ever invented. Linda Rosenkrantz There's no occupation more quintessentially macho than that of private detective. Cynthia Crossen quintessential 2 of 2 noun plural quintessentials : a quintessential element : something that is a typical part or pure example —usually plural The quintessentials—ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard—that characterize classic American barbecue sauce can be found in this dish. Betty RosbottomThe quintessentials of a culture become all the more noticeable and absorbing if they are perceived as in danger of disappearing or as an obstacle to progress that must disappear. Steve J. Stern Did you know? Quintessential and the Elements The philosophers and scientists of the ancient world and the Middle Ages believed that the world we inhabit was entirely made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Aristotle added a fifth element, the aether or ether, by which he meant the material that fills the rest of space, mostly invisibly but sometimes taking the form of stars and planets. Many writers described the element as a kind of invisible light or fire. In the Middle Ages, it was referred to as the quinta essentia ("fifth element"). It isn't surprising that the quinta essentia came to stand for anything so perfect that it seemed to surpass the limitations of earth. Today we generally use quintessential rather freely to describe just about anything that represents the best of its kind. Synonyms Adjective archetypal archetypical classic definitive exemplary imitable model paradigmatic textbook See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History First Known Use Adjective 1551, in the meaning defined above Noun 1853, in the meaning defined above quintessential adjective as in classic constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance classic exemplary perfect archetypal definitive unique superb paradigmatic excellent wonderful archetypical model great textbook terrific prime exceptional imitable ideal special fantastic marvelous fine nonpareil stellar flawless fabulous superlative absolute splendid marvellous superior top impeccable sensational primo dandy groovy choice crackerjack capital unsurpassed grand nifty sterling par excellence swell fancy first-rate banner wizard top-notch first-class keen tip-top jim-dandy bang-up A-OK high-grade A1 Antonyms & Near Antonyms poor bad typical unsatisfactory substandard wretched vile normal ordinary execrable atrocious average inadequate representative inferior disappointing deficient low-grade failed mediocre second-rate second-class See More
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quintessential

adjective

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Word History

adjective