Quintessence
[kwin-tes-uh ns] /kwɪnˈtɛs əns/
noun
1.
the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
2.
the most perfect embodiment of something.
3.
(in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.
/kwɪnˈtɛsəns/
noun
1.
the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc
2.
an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form
3.
(in ancient and medieval philosophy) ether, the fifth and highest essence or element after earth, water, air, and fire, which was thought to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things
n.
early 15c., in ancient and medieval philosophy, “pure essence, substance of which the heavenly bodies are composed,” literally “fifth essence,” from Middle French quinte essence (14c.), from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, from Latin quinta, fem. of quintus “fifth” (see quinque-) + essentia (see Parousia).
A loan-translation of Greek pempte ousia, the “ether” added by Aristotle to the four known elements (water, earth, fire, air) and said to permeate all things. Its extraction was one of the chief goals of alchemy. Sense of “purest essence” (of a situation, character, etc.) is first recorded 1580s.
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