n. | 1. | The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence. |
2. | The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts. | |
3. | Constituent substance. | |
4. | A being; esp., a purely spiritual being. | |
5. | The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; | |
6. | Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume. | |
v. t. | 1. | To perfume; to scent. |
Noun | 1. | essence - the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story" Synonyms: heart and soul, inwardness, nitty-gritty, pith, gist, kernel, substance, nub, meat, sum, core, center, heart, marrow |
2. | essence - any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted | |
3. | essence - the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work | |
4. | ![]() Synonyms: perfume |