quintessence
UK: kwɪnˈtes(ə)ns | US: kwɪnˈtes(ə)ns
n. 1. The most perfect or typical example of a quality or class; the purest essence.
n. 2. (Historical) In ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence (after earth, air, fire, and water), believed to compose celestial bodies.
quintessence = quint<fifth> + essence<being>
- quint (from Latin quintus, meaning "fifth")
- essence (from Latin essentia, meaning "being" or "fundamental nature")
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to medieval Latin quinta essentia ("fifth essence"), coined by alchemists and philosophers to describe a hypothetical substance beyond the four classical elements (earth, air, fire, water). It was believed to permeate celestial bodies and embody perfection. Over time, quintessence evolved metaphorically to signify the purest or most refined form of anything.
Her kindness is the quintessence of compassion.
The artist’s latest work captures the quintessence of minimalism.
Medieval scholars debated the existence of the quintessence.
His speech was the quintessence of eloquence.
The dish is considered the quintessence of French cuisine.