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🌟 The perfect example ✨ A fifth element 🌌 A dark energy
quintessence

quintessence

9.9
A fifth element thought to make the stars and sky
  • noun
  • /kwɪnˈtɛsəns/
  • Archaic
translation icon : quintessencia
  • In ancient philosophy, the quintessence is considered to be the fifth element that composes the heavens.

Originally, ether is a fifth element, a quintessence, right?

Examples

  • The notion of quintessence refers to the purest form of matter, distinct from the four classical elements.

  • Many historians believe that the quintessence was thought to be a vital element responsible for celestial phenomena.

  • And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?

  • Originally, ether is a fifth element, a quintessence, right?

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

Synonyms

ether
vsquintessence
  • Archaic
4 9.9

The clear upper air above the Earth where stars are

is the philosophical fifth element distinct from the four terrestrial elements

Surface Forms

quintessence singular
quintessences plural

Morphology

quintessence = essence (semi-transparent) = quint + essence

The philosophical meaning 'fifth essence' is directly compositional (quint- = fifth + essence), but 'quint-' is a learned combining form rather than a productive modern English prefix, so it's only partly transparent to learners.

Etymology

Quintessence comes from the Latin quinta essentia, meaning 'fifth essence'. In ancient and medieval thought this was the special, perfect element that filled the heavens beyond earth, water, air and fire, which is why the word named that highest, heavenly matter.