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 everything 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." They believed the quinta essentia was essential to all kinds of matter, and if they could somehow isolate it, it would cure all disease. People have since given up on that idea, but English users have 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

Examples of quintessence in a Sentence

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 test whether dark energy is caused by quintessence or the cosmological constant, scientists must determine whether the strength of dark energy has changed over time. —Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021

True to its low-impact quintessence, the culinary program takes a farm-to-table approach emphasizing fresh, local ingredients. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024

To some, quintessence was a subtle substance found in some degree in each of the other four elements. —Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021

The very quintessence of a group effort. —Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2012

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

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Kids Definition

quintessence

noun

quin·​tes·​sence kwin-ˈtes-ᵊn(t)s 

1

: the purest form of something

2

: the most perfect type or example

quintessential

ˌkwint-ə-ˈsen-chəl

adjective

Etymology

Middle English quintessence "the substance from which heavenly bodies are formed (according to medieval belief)," from early French quinte essence (same meaning), from Latin quinta essentia, literally, "fifth essence," from earlier quinta, feminine form of quintus "fifth," and earlier essentia "essence"