essence

[ es-uhns ]
/ ˈɛs əns /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR essence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features: Freedom is the very essence of our democracy.
a substance obtained from a plant, drug, or the like, by distillation, infusion, etc., and containing its characteristic properties in concentrated form.
an alcoholic solution of an essential oil; spirit.
a perfume; scent.
Philosophy. the inward nature, true substance, or constitution of anything, as opposed to what is accidental, phenomenal, illusory, etc.
something that exists, especially a spiritual or immaterial entity.

Idioms for essence

    in essence, essentially; at bottom, often despite appearances: For all his bluster, he is in essence a shy person.
    of the essence, absolutely essential; critical; crucial: In chess, cool nerves are of the essence.

Origin of essence

1350–1400; Middle English essencia < Medieval Latin, for Latin essentia. See esse, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM essence

self-es·sence, noun

Words nearby essence

essayist, essayistic, esse, esse quam videri, essen, essence, essence d'orient, essence of bergamot, essene, essential, essential amino acid

Words related to in essence

essentially, morally, approximately, virtually, nearly, basically, roughly, practically, mostly, considerably, heavily, largely, extensively, materially, really, necessarily, originally, truly, permanently, substantially

British Dictionary definitions for in essence

essence
/ (ˈɛsəns) /

noun

Word Origin for essence

C14: from Medieval Latin essentia, from Latin: the being (of something), from esse to be

Idioms and Phrases with in essence

in essence

Basically, by nature, as in He is in essence a very private person or In essence, they were asking the wrong question. This term employs essence in the sense of “intrinsic nature,” a usage dating from the mid-1600s.