essence

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈɛsəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #6577

Meanings

1

noun
The most basic and important quality that makes something what it is.

Kindness is the very essence of who she is.
2

noun
A concentrated liquid extracted from a plant, used for flavour or scent.

Add a few drops of vanilla essence to the cake mixture.
3

noun
A pleasant smell; a perfume.

The room was filled with the sweet essence of roses.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the most basic and... substance

2 noun · a concentrated liquid... extract

3 noun · a pleasant smell; a perfume. aroma perfume

More bouquet crux marrow natureousiaquidditywhatness

Word family

Forms essences

Derived forms essencedessencelessglabrescencehyperessencek-essenceparadessencesuperessenceunessence

Related forms essential essentialism essentially gist intrinsicality quintessential

Etymology

From Middle English essence, from Middle French essence, from Latin essentia (“the being or essence of a thing”), from an artificial formation of esse (“to be”), to translate Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía, “being”), from ὤν (ṓn), present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be, exist”).

*h₁es- Proto-Indo-European essence Middle English essentia Latin οὐσία Ancient Greek

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External links

# essence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛsəns/
**Frequency rank:** 6577

## Meanings
1. The most basic and important quality that makes something what it is.
2. A concentrated liquid extracted from a plant, used for flavour or scent.
3. A pleasant smell; a perfume.

## Examples
- Kindness is the very essence of who she is.
- Add a few drops of vanilla essence to the cake mixture.
- The room was filled with the sweet essence of roses.

## Synonyms
- bouquet
- crux
- marrow
- nature
- ousia
- quiddity
- whatness

## Derived Forms
- essenced
- essenceless
- glabrescence
- hyperessence
- k-essence
- paradessence
- superessence
- unessence

## Related Forms
- essential
- essentialism
- essentially
- gist
- intrinsicality
- quintessential

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁es-
- Root: essence
- Root: essentia
- Root: οὐσία

## Etymology
From Middle English essence, from Middle French essence, from Latin essentia (“the being or essence of a thing”), from an artificial formation of esse (“to be”), to translate Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía, “being”), from ὤν (ṓn), present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be, exist”).

## AI Etymology
Essence comes from Middle English essence, from Middle French essence, from Latin essentia (“the being or essence of a thing”), from an artificial formation of esse (“to be”), to translate Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía, “being”), from ὤν (ṓn), present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “to be, exist”). In current use, the main senses are “The most basic and important quality that makes something what it is” and “A concentrated liquid extracted from a plant, used for flavour or scent”.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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essence

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