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Quintessence (alchemy) - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Axiom, Bottom, Center, Champion, Choice, Chosen, Classic, Concentrate, Concentration, Core, Cream, Distillate, Distillation, Elite, Elixir, Embodiment, Epitome, Essence, Essential, Extraction, Fabric |
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In alchemy, among the classical elements, quintessence (meaning "fifth element", along with earth, air, fire, and water) was another term for aether; it is the substance of which the heavenly bodies were supposed to be composed.
More loosely, quintessence is the purest form of a particular substance. This is seen in the Hamlet soliloquy: "The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals and yet to me what is this quintessence of dust?"
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