of the essence

es·sence

E0216900 (ĕs′əns) n. 1. a. The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something: The essence of democracy is the freedom to choose. b. Philosophy The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence. 2. The most important part or aspect of something: The essence of her argument is that the policy is wrongheaded. 3. a. An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form. b. Such an extract in a solution of alcohol. c. A perfume or scent. 4. One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated: a neighbor who is the essence of hospitality. 5. Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity. Idioms: in essence By nature; essentially: He is in essence a reclusive sort. of the essence Of the greatest importance; crucial: Time is of the essence.

[Middle English essencia and French essence, both from Latin essentia, from esse, to be, from the presumed present participle *essēns, *essent- (on the model of differentia, difference, from differēns, different-, present participle of differre, to differ), created to translate Greek ousiā (from ousa, feminine present participle of einai, to be) ; see es- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adj.

of the essence - of the greatest importance; "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"all important, all-important, crucial, essentialimportant, of import - of great significance or value; "important people"; "the important questions of the day"

of the essence

be of the essence

To be a key consideration, of great importance, or absolutely necessary. It goes without saying that discretion is of the essence in this situation. Has anyone called an ambulance? Time is of the essence with this man's injuries!See also: essence, of

of the essence

Absolutely necessary; of great importance or key consideration. It goes without saying that discretion is of the essence in this situation. Has anyone called an ambulance? Time is of the essence with this man's injuries!See also: essence, of

of the essence

Of the greatest importance, crucial, as in Time is of the essence. This idiom, which uses essence in the sense of "the most important element of something," was first recorded in 1873, although the phrase the essence of ... was already being used in the mid-1600s. See also: essence, of

of the essence

FORMALIf something is of the essence, it is absolutely necessary in order for a particular action to be successful. Time is of the essence. Speed was of the essence in a project of this type.See also: essence, of

of the essence

critically important. 1990 Louis de Bernières The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts Gentlemen, we have before us an important mission for which speed and efficiency are of the essence, and where surprise is the key element. See also: essence, of

of the ˈessence

absolutely necessary: Time is of the essence (= we must do things as quickly as possible).See also: essence, of

of the essence

Of the greatest importance; crucial: Time is of the essence.See also: essence, of

of the essence

es·sence

of the essence

be of the essence

of the essence

of the essence

of the essence

of the essence

of the ˈessence

of the essence

of the essence

Synonyms for of the essence

adj of the greatest importance

Synonyms

Related Words