noun
1.
a basic underlying or constituting entity, substance, or form
succeeds in conveying completely the cruel essence of loneliness
Synonyms: being, essentia, essentiality, nature, texture
Related Word: entity, form, substance
2.
the most basic, significant, and indispensable element, attribute, quality, property, or aspect of a thing
the very essence of Machiavellianism is the belief that in politics there is neither good nor evil
Synonyms: be-all and end-all, bottom, essentiality, marrow, pith, quintessence, quintessential, rock bottom, root, soul, stuff, substance, virtuality; compare body 3, center 2, substance 2
Related Word: timber; element, fiber, property; aspect, attribute, quality, spirit; inwardness, significance; crux, gist, kernel, nub, nubbin; distillate, distillation