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Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Quintessence

/kwĭn-tĕsʹ-əns/ · Quin·tes·sence · IPA /kwɪnˈtɛs.əns/
01 n. The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a natural body. See Ferment oils, under Ferment.
  1. 1.
    The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a natural body. See Ferment oils, under Ferment.[Obs.] See: Ferment
  2. 2.
    Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a small quantity; pure or concentrated essence.
    “Let there be light, said God; and forthwith light Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung from the deep.” — Milton.
  3. 3.
    The most characteristic form or most perfect example of some type of object.
02 v. t. To distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a quintessence.
  1. 1.
    To distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a quintessence.[R.]