Quintessence

Pronunciation

• enPR: kwÄ­n-tÄ•sʹ-É™ns, IPA: /kwɪn.ˈtÉ›s.É™ns/

Origin

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia "fifth essence".

Full definition of quintessence

Noun

1. A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something.
2. A pure substance.
3. The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.
4. (alchemy) The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water
5. (physics) A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• quintessential
• quintessentially