in essence

es·sence  (sns)

n.

1. The intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something.

2. The most important ingredient; the crucial element.

3. The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things.

4.

a. An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.

b. Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.

c. A perfume or scent.

5. One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated: a neighbor who is the essence of hospitality.

6. Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.

Idioms:

in essence

By nature; essentially: He is in essence a reclusive sort.

of the essence

Of the greatest importance; crucial: Time is of the essence.

---

[Middle English essencia and French essence, both from Latin essentia, from esse, to be, from the presumed present participle *essns, *essent- (on the model of differentia, difference, from differns, different-, present participle of differre, to differ), created to translate Greek ousi (from ousa, feminine present participle of einai, to be); see es- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

in essence - with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details; "in principle, we agree" in principle, in theory