essence
What something fundamentally is
Essence is the fundamental nature of something—what makes it what it is.
The essence of a contract is agreement between parties.
In cooking and perfumery, an essence is a concentrated extract: vanilla essence, essence of rose.
The phrase in essence means fundamentally or at its core: In essence, we agree.
Something of the essence is critically important: Time is of the essence.
Central controlling part
- centerMiddle of anything
- heartCirculatory system's pump
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- cruxMost important point
kernel · gist · fundamental · bedrock · cornerstone · root · basis · soul
Purification via vaporization
- tinctureHerb steeped in alcohol
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- concentrateReduced, potent form
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
elixir · perfume · attar · rosewater · oleoresin · absolute · aromatic · volatile
Pleasing olfactory quality
- perfumeFragrant liquid for wearing
- aromaPleasant distinctive smell
- bouquetArranged cluster of blooms
- vanillaOrchid pod extract
lavender · sandalwood · patchouli · jasmine · bergamot · ylang-ylang · vetiver · musk
Doctrine of fixed natures
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- quiddityInherent essential nature
- substancePhysical material with mass
form · universals · particulars · nominalism · realism · phenomenology · being · existence
Innermost animating essence
- vital forceAnimating principle of life
- life forceAnimating vital energy
- animaInner personality essence
- pneumaGreek vital spirit
élan vital · breath · inner being · consciousness · spark · divine spark · prana · chi
Completely unmixed, genuine
- pureUnmixed, without impurities
- concentratedGathered or intensified
- undilutedNot mixed with anything
- refinedPurified or cultured
pristine · unblemished · untainted · unalloyed · absolute · sheer · uncut · neat
Power to do work
- vigorActive physical strength
- livelinessAnimated, energetic quality
- vivacityAnimated spirit or energy
- dynamismActive, energetic quality
verve · zest · exuberance · animation · effervescence · sparkle · pep · vibrancy
nucleus
Central controlling part
- centerMiddle of anything
- heartCirculatory system's pump
- foundationUnderlying support structure
crux · kernel · gist · fundamental · bedrock · cornerstone · root · basis · soul · nature
distillation
Purification via vaporization
- tinctureHerb steeped in alcohol
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- concentrateReduced, potent form
oil · elixir · perfume · attar · rosewater · oleoresin · absolute · aromatic · volatile · extraction
fragrance
Pleasing olfactory quality
vanilla · lavender · sandalwood · patchouli · jasmine · bergamot · ylang-ylang · vetiver · musk · oud
essentialism
Doctrine of fixed natures
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- quiddityInherent essential nature
substance · form · universals · particulars · nominalism · realism · phenomenology · being · existence · nature
soul
Innermost animating essence
- vital forceAnimating principle of life
- life forceAnimating vital energy
- animaInner personality essence
pneuma · élan vital · breath · inner being · consciousness · spark · divine spark · prana · chi · qi
unadulterated
Completely unmixed, genuine
- pureUnmixed, without impurities
- concentratedGathered or intensified
- undilutedNot mixed with anything
refined · pristine · unblemished · untainted · unalloyed · absolute · sheer · uncut · neat · straight
energy
Power to do work
- vigorActive physical strength
- livelinessAnimated, energetic quality
- vivacityAnimated spirit or energy
dynamism · verve · zest · exuberance · animation · effervescence · sparkle · pep · vibrancy · spiritedness
- brevitybrevity, concise, succinct, terse, pithy
- explanationswhy, how come, explication, what happened, definition
- fundamentalsbasics, fundamentals, foundation, ABCs, rudiments
- Get to the Pointcut to the chase, bottom line, in a nutshell, spit it out, long story short
- importanceimportance, significance, consequence, weight, gravity
- selfself-awareness, self-concept, self-esteem, self-knowledge, self-image
essenceperiphery
Boundary or outer region
detail · particulars · incidentals · accidentals · triviality
essencebody
Physical structure, living thing
matter · substance · form · flesh · physicality
essencesurface
Outermost boundary layer
appearance · superficiality · exterior · veneer · trappings
- bare essentialsAbsolute minimum required
- essential oilsConcentrated plant-derived aromatics
- essential personnelStaff too vital to furlough
- non-essential goodsItems beyond basic needs
- in essenceRegarding core nature
- essential workerVital occupation holder
essential, essentials, essentially, nonessential, quintessence, inessential, essences, quintessential, unessential