[quin.tes.sence] n [ME, fr. MF quinte essence, fr. ML quinta essentia, lit., fifth essence] (15c) 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 -- quin.tes.sen.tial adj -- quin.tes.sen.tial.ly adv