Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a small quantity; pure or concentrated essence
The quintessence of something is the most perfect or typical example of it. He was the quintessence of all that Eva most deeply loathed
The quintessence of something is the aspect of it which seems to represent its central nature. an old stone cottage, the quintessence of rural England. the quintessence of sth a perfect example of something (quinte essence, from quinta essentia ; because it was in addition to the four elements earth, air, fire, and water)
{i} epitome, perfect embodiment of; essence, basic nature; (Philosophy) fifth element, element thought to be the matter from which celestial objects are composed (during the Middle Ages)
the most typical example or representative of a type the purest and most concentrated essence of something the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies