QUINTESSENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does quintessence mean? 

• QUINTESSENCE (noun)
  The noun QUINTESSENCE has 3 senses:

1. the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

2. the purest and most concentrated essence of something

3. the most typical example or representative of a type

  Familiarity information: QUINTESSENCE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• QUINTESSENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

ether; quintessence

Hypernyms ("quintessence" is a kind of...):

element (one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe)

Domain usage:

archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)

Derivation:

quintessential (representing the perfect example of a class or quality)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The purest and most concentrated essence of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("quintessence" is a kind of...):

center; centre; core; essence; gist; heart; heart and soul; inwardness; kernel; marrow; meat; nitty-gritty; nub; pith; substance; sum (the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience)

Derivation:

quintessential (representing the perfect example of a class or quality)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The most typical example or representative of a type

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("quintessence" is a kind of...):

example; illustration; instance; representative (an item of information that is typical of a class or group)

Derivation:

quintessential (representing the perfect example of a class or quality)