GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions 

  1.       

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

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

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      The essence of Addison's humor is irony.
      Courthope.

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    3. Constituent substance.
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      And uncompounded is their essence pure.
      Milton.

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    4. A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.
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      As far as gods and heavenly essences
      Can perish.
      Milton.

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

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    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.
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      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.

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    6. Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.
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      Nor let the essences exhale.
      Pope.

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  2.       

    Essence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essenced ; p. pr. & vb. n. Essencing .] To perfume; to scent. “Essenced fops.”
    Addison.

    1913 Webster

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