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essenza

essence

noun es-SEN-tsah Rare
Mind & Emotions Values

Origin: From Latin essentia, coined by Cicero to translate Greek ousia.

Also means

essential oil

Usage Note

Essenza covers both the philosophical sense (the intrinsic nature of something) and the practical sense of a concentrated extract or essential oil — un'essenza di lavanda is a lavender essence. The phrase in essenza means 'in essence' or 'essentially'. Its close relative essenziale (essential/crucial) is more common in everyday speech.

Examples

"L'essenza della sua filosofia è la libertà."

Natural Translation

The essence of his philosophy is freedom.

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