n.
Pronunciation: kwin- ' te-s ə n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French quinte essence, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, literally, fifth essence
Date: 15th century
1 : the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies
2 : the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form
3 : the most typical example or representative <the quintessence of calm>
– quin · tes · sen · tial \ ˌ kwin-t ə - ' sen(t)-sh ə l \ adjective
– quin · tes · sen · tial · ly adverb