rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryessenceFundamental nature
noun

essence

ESS-uns/ˈesns/

The essential nature or defining quality of something.

Supporting someone at rest is the essence shared by all three seats.

Show the essence of a seat through three radically different examples: ornate, ordinary, and improvised.
Etymology
essenceLatinbeing, essence

Latin essentia meant “being”: what something truly is, rather than how it happens to appear. This distinction underlies essence as the basic nature or defining quality of something.

In context

LawMint0:00
the true nature the true essence or more literally the center of something
Doctrine Pith & Substance - Interpretation of the Constitution

More examples

  • Trust is the essence of a lasting friendship.
  • The film preserves the essence of the original novel.
  • In essence, the proposal gives workers more control over their schedules.

Forms

essence · essences

essential adjective — Central to something's basic nature or character.

Similar words

core
Emphasizes the central part rather than a defining quality.
nature
Refers more broadly to something's inherent character and traits.
spirit
Emphasizes the characteristic mood or guiding attitude of something.