essence

Derived from Middle English 'essence', from Old French 'essence', from Latin 'essentia', from 'esse' meaning 'to be'.

NOUN (1)
[/ˈɛs.əns/en-US]
本質 literal / エッセンス loanword / 性質 / 根本 / 概念 untranslatable (No direct equivalent concept in JAPANESE that encapsulates all nuances of 'essence'.)
Synonyms substance formal , nature , core

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character; the most important or fundamental part of something. It can also refer to a concentrated extract obtained from a plant or other substance.

plural
essences
  • The essence of her argument was that education should be accessible to everyone. — This sentence illustrates the core or fundamental part of an abstract concept.
  • In essence, the new policy is a slight modification of the old one. — This usage means 'fundamentally' or 'at its core'.
  • She dabbed a little lavender essence behind her ears. — This example refers to a concentrated liquid extract.