quintessence

Overview

Meaning Now

• The most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
• In ancient and medieval science, the fifth essence or element (aether) that permeates all matter and composes the celestial bodies.

Journey

The concept stems from the Aristotelian notion that the four terrestrial elements (earth, air, fire, water) were imperfect and subject to change, whereas the fifth element, 'aether', was incorruptible and made up the celestial spheres. In alchemy, this was conflated with the idea of a 'pure' essence extracted from earthly materials.

Evolution

1. Classical Latin

   quinta essentia

   “the fifth element”

   Philosophical concept originating from Aristotle's model of the cosmos.

2. Middle French

   quinte essence

   “the fifth element; the pure, concentrated extract of a substance”

   Adopted by alchemists to refer to the pure substance sought in transmutation.

3. Early Modern English

   quintessence

   “a refined extract or the purest embodiment of a quality”

   Spelling stabilized as a single word.

Connections

Explore next

Related to quintessence

• abhorrent→
• abolitionist→
• absurd→