essence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

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

   Kindness is the very essence of who she is.

2. 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. 3
   noun

   A pleasant smell; a perfume.

   The room was filled with the sweet essence of roses.

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”).

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