Essence

[es-uh ns] /ˈɛs əns/

noun
1.
the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features:
Freedom is the very essence of our democracy.
2.
a substance obtained from a plant, drug, or the like, by distillation, infusion, etc., and containing its characteristic properties in concentrated form.
3.
an alcoholic solution of an ; spirit.
4.
a perfume; scent.
5.
Philosophy. the inward nature, true substance, or constitution of anything, as opposed to what is accidental, phenomenal, illusory, etc.
6.
something that exists, especially a spiritual or immaterial entity.
Idioms
7.
in essence, essentially; at bottom, often despite appearances:
For all his bluster, he is in essence a shy person.
8.
of the essence, absolutely essential; critical; crucial:
In chess, cool nerves are of the essence.
/ˈɛsəns/
noun
1.
the characteristic or intrinsic feature of a thing, which determines its identity; fundamental nature
2.
the most distinctive element of a thing: the essence of a problem
3.
a perfect or complete form of something, esp a person who typifies an abstract quality: he was the essence of gentility
4.
(philosophy)

5.
(theol) an immaterial or spiritual entity
6.

7.
a substance, usually a liquid, containing the properties of a plant or foodstuff in concentrated form: vanilla essence
8.
a rare word for perfume
9.
in essence, essentially; fundamentally
10.
of the essence, indispensable; vitally important
n.

late 14c., essencia (respelled late 15c. on French model), from Latin essentia “being, essence,” abstract noun formed (in imitation of Greek ousia “being, essence”) from essent-, present participle stem of esse “to be,” from PIE *es- (cf. Sanskrit asmi, Hittite eimi, Old Church Slavonic jesmi, Lithuanian esmi, Gothic imi, Old English eom “I am;” see be). Originally “substance of the Trinity,” the general sense of “basic element of anything” is first recorded in English 1650s, though this is the base meaning of the first English use of essential.