quintessence
20 synonyms for quintessence, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The best and most typical example of something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The best and most typical example of something.
3. noun
The most concentrated and basic part of something.
“Dickie, a one-man entertainment empire, was at least as significant as those humanitarian titans he brought to life on screen. He was also the quintessence of kindness and modesty, and it was a privilege to have known and worked with him”
4. noun
In old alchemy, a fifth element thought to fill the sky beyond earth, air, fire and water.
Etymology
PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle English, borrowed from Middle French, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia (“fifth essence, aether”), equivalent to quint- + essence. "Essence" in this context is a synonym for "element". In pre-atomic/Aristotelian theory, there are four known elements or essences — Earth, Air, Fire and Wate...
Full origin of quintessence →