quintessence|kwinˈtesəns| noun
the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class: he was the quintessence ofpolitical professionalism.
the aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character: we were all brought up to believe that advertising is the quintessence ofmarketing.
a refined essence or extract of a substance.
(in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.