essence
/ˈɛsəns/
the fundamental nature that makes something what it is
essence in a sentence
“Existence precedes essence in existentialist thought.”
Origin of essence
Latin essentia 'being' from esse 'to be'
Related Words
modality
the study of necessity, possibility, and contingency
contingency
that which could have been otherwise
necessity
that which could not have been otherwise
nominalism
the view that universals are merely names, not real entities
realism
the view that abstract entities or universals exist independently
dualism
the view that mind and body are distinct substances