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Antonyms for quintessence

Grammar : Noun
Spell : kwin-tes-uh ns
Phonetic Transcription : kwɪnˈtɛs əns


Definition of quintessence

Origin :
  • early 15c., in ancient and medieval philosophy, "pure essence, substance of which the heavenly bodies are composed," literally "fifth essence," from Middle French quinte essence (14c.), from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, from Latin quinta, fem. of quintus "fifth" (see quinque-) + essentia (see Parousia).
  • A loan-translation of Greek pempte ousia, the "ether" added by Aristotle to the four known elements (water, earth, fire, air) and said to permeate all things. Its extraction was one of the chief goals of alchemy. Sense of "purest essence" (of a situation, character, etc.) is first recorded 1580s.
  • noun essence, core
Example sentences :
  • To the man of the world they are the quintessence of his own reflections upon life.
  • Extract from : « Theaetetus » by Plato
  • "This is the quintessence of my journalism; that is the supreme argument," he said to Antonia.
  • Extract from : « Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard » by Joseph Conrad
  • The law of compensation itself is the quintessence of horse sense.
  • Extract from : « Dollars and Sense » by Col. Wm. C. Hunter
  • Adams was a quintessence of Boston, devoured by curiosity to think like Benvenuto.
  • Extract from : « The Education of Henry Adams » by Henry Adams
  • They are the very breath of democracy; the quintessence of freedom.
  • Extract from : « The Debs Decision » by Scott Nearing
  • But I speak of the cruet sauces, where the quintessence of the sapid is condensed in a phial.
  • Extract from : « Crotchet Castle » by Thomas Love Peacock
  • Indeed, study is the first duty of the Jew; it is the quintessence of his religion.
  • Extract from : « Rabbi and Priest » by Milton Goldsmith
  • To Robert she always seemed the quintessence of breeding, of aristocracy at their best.
  • Extract from : « Robert Elsmere » by Mrs. Humphry Ward
  • This part of your letter to me is a quintessence of richness.
  • Extract from : « More Letters of Charles Darwin » by Charles Darwin
  • The Spectator was the quintessence of gossip in an age of gossip and good conversation.
  • Extract from : « Conversation » by Mary Greer Conklin

Synonyms for quintessence

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019