quin·tes·sence

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• quin|tes|sence — «kwihn TEHS uhns», noun. 1. the purest form of some quality; pure essence. SYNONYM(S): pith. 2. the most perfect example of something: »Her costume was the quintessence of good taste and style. 3. (in medieval philosophy) the ether of Aristotle,… …   Useful english dictionary

• quin — quin·a·crine; quin·al·dic; quin·al·dine; quin·al·din·i·um; quin·alizarin; quin·a·mine; quin·az·o·line; quin·centennial; quin·cun·cial; quin·cunx; quin·decagon; quin·deca·syllabic; quin·decemvir; quin·decemvirate; quin·decillion; quin·de·cim;… …   English syllables

• tes — ach·o·ru·tes; acrob·a·tes; ae·ti·tes; ag·e·la·cri·ni·tes; ago·ni·a·ti·tes; agri·o·tes; al·eu·ri·tes; al·ve·o·li·tes; al·y·tes; am·blop·li·tes; am·mo·coe·tes; am·mo·dy·tes; am·mo·ni·tes; an·ar·ces·tes; an·thoc·er·o·tes; an·tis·tes; ao·tes;… …   English syllables

• sence — ab·sence; es·sence; quin·tes·sence; …   English syllables

• quintessence — quin·tes·sence …   English syllables

• quintessence — quin•tes•sence [[t]kwɪnˈtɛs əns[/t]] n. 1) the pure and concentrated essence of a substance 2) the most perfect embodiment of something 3) pho (in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be with air, fire …   From formal English to slang

• quintessence — quin·tes·sence (kwin tesґəns) [quint + essence] the highly concentrated extract of any substance …   Medical dictionary

• quintessence — quin|tes|sence [kwınˈtesəns] n [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: quinte essence, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia fifth essence ; because it was in addition to the four elements earth, air, fire, and water] the quintessence of sth formal …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• quintessence — quin|tes|sence [ kwın tesns ] noun singular FORMAL 1. ) a person or thing that is a perfect example of something 2. ) a feature of something that contains all of its main qualities …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• Quintessence — Quin*tes sence, v. t. To distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a quintessence. [R.] Stirling. Truth quintessenced and raised to the highest power. J. A. Symonds. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English