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quintessence
Definitions
[kwɪnˈtɛsns], (Noun)
Definitions:
- the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
(e.g: he was the quintessence of political professionalism)
- a refined essence or extract of a substance.
- (in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.
Phrases:
Origin
:
late Middle English (as a term in philosophy): via French from medieval Latin quinta essentia ‘fifth essence’
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definition by Oxford Dictionaries