essence
UK[ˈesəns]US[ˈesəns]
n
The most important quality or feature of something, that makes it what it is.
n
A liquid taken from a plant, etc. that contains its smell and taste in a very strong form.
Morpheme Breakdown
ess
ence
ess
to be
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'essence' originates from the Latin 'essentia', a philosophical term coined to translate the Greek 'ousia', meaning 'being' or 'substance'. It is derived from the Latin verb 'esse', meaning 'to be', combined with the abstract noun suffix '-entia'. The core logic of the word is that the essence of something is its fundamental, defining nature—that which makes it be what it is. This philosophical concept of intrinsic being evolved into the modern meanings of a thing's most important quality or its concentrated, intrinsic extract.
Analysis
Structure: ess (to be) + ence (noun suffix)
- ess: From Latin 'esse', meaning 'to be'.
- ence: A noun-forming suffix from Latin '-entia', indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
The essence of his argument is that we need to act now.
Vanilla essence is commonly used in baking.
She captured the very essence of the landscape in her painting.