Word family noun essence essentials ≠ inessentials adjective essential ≠ inessential adverb essentially
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishessencees‧sence /ˈesəns/ ●●○ noun 1 [singular]CHARACTER OF something the most basic and important quality of somethingessence of The essence of Arsenal’s style of football was speed. She seems the very essence of kindness (=she seems very kind).2 → in essence3 [countable, uncountable]DFC a liquid obtained from a plant, flower etc that has a very strong smell or taste and is used especially in cooking vanilla essence4 → something is of the essenceExamples from the Corpus
essence• essence of garlic• That in essence is what started Pons and Fleischmann on their quest for test-tube fusion.• His speech was, in essence, a plea for understanding and conciliation.• The defence case, which opened last week, will in essence plead incompetence.• In essence, internal relations previously based on hierarchies and bureaucratic authority are being gradually transformed into actual or surrogate market transactions.• It was mind-boggling how quickly he captured the essence of our business and started making improvements.• The movie brilliantly captures the essence of Calcutta's street life.• Equality is the essence of democracy.• Sharing is the essence of friendship.• This is the essence of the problem, as I see it.• I understand why the Government have maintained an exemption for small businesses, for which survival is of the essence.• The essence of his argument is that human character is formed by society.• The essence of his teachings can be summed up in the phrase "Know yourself."essence of• The essence of war is violence.Origin essence (1300-1400) French Latin essentia, from esse “to be” 