essence

n. [ F. essence, L. essentia, formed as if fr. a p. pr. of esse to be. See Is, and cf. Entity. ] 1. The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The laws are at present, both in form and essence, the greatest curse that society labors under. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this virtue [ charity ]. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The essence of Addison's humor is irony. Courthope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Constituent substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

And uncompounded is their essence pure. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A being; esp., a purely spiritual being. [ 1913 Webster ]

As far as gods and heavenly essences
Can perish. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences, until . . . he had and ideal world of his own around him. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; as, the essence of mint, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The . . . word essence . . . scarcely underwent a more complete transformation when from being the abstract of the verb “to be, ” it came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a glass bottle. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor let the essences exhale. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]