quintessence

Meanings

Noun

• A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype.
• A pure substance.
• The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.
• The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere.
• A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.

Verb

• To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.

Origin

• From Middle English, borrowed from Middle French, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia. "Essence" in this context is a synonym for "element". In pre-atomic/Aristotlean theory, there are four known elements or essences — Earth, Air, Fire and Water — and a putative fifth element (aether), which is considered to be of exceptional superior quality to the other four basic elements.