{n} the essence, a trifling nicety, a cavil Quid pro quo, latin in law a consideration or equivalent
the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other
an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it? A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble