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Doesn't "quint" mean "five"? What does that have to do with the meaning of "quintessential"?

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The other posters have defined it well enough, but here's an etymology, if that's what you're after. etymonline.com/index.php?term=quintessence – kitukwfyer Aug 5 '10 at 20:15
+1 for another 'amazing' fact to bore dinner party guests with ;) – Jon Hadley Aug 13 '10 at 10:16
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In the "Fifth Element" [movie] it's "Love". :) – Atømix Aug 23 '10 at 16:49
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Atomix: How about a spoiler alert next time? 8-) – taserian Apr 26 '11 at 20:06

6 Answers

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"Essence" in this context is a synonym for "element", and "essential" for "elemental". In pre-atomic theory, there were four "known" elements or essences — Earth, Air, Fire and Water — and a putative fifth element (quinta essentia). The fifth element was believed to be superior to the others, and so, "quintessential" has come to mean something that is superior.

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More precisely, the fifth element was believed to be more subtle, permeating the others and the fabric of things and more difficult to find or to isolate. That is why one of the meanings of quintessential is "the most refined part of, the true core of, etc." – ogerard Apr 24 '11 at 18:29
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It's the fifth element after earth, air, fire, and water, so it is presumably superior to those or completing those.

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up vote 1 down vote

"quint" means fifth. The "quintessence" is the fifth essence.

The fifth element was the one supposed to come after air, fire, earth, and water in the Medieval Age.

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The origin of the word quint is the late 17th century; it derives from French, which took the word from Latin quintus (fifth) from quinque (five). In Italian, quinto means fifth, and has the same origin.

Quintessential derives from quintessence (from Latin quinta essentia), which was considered thought to fill the Universe beyond Earth. In modern physics, quintessence is a hypothetical form of dark energy.
The NOAD reports that the origin of quintessence is late Middle English (as a term in philosophy), via French from medieval Latin quinta essentia ("fifth essence").

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Why is the 17th-century origin of a word "quint" relevant, when quintessential has been around since the 16th century? – LarsH Apr 26 '11 at 19:55
up vote 7 down vote

Somewhat missed in the answers thus far: the "fifth essence" is in fact identical to the "æther" of yore; said to be the stuff the stars and other heavenly bodies are made of. Thus, anything composed of the "fifth essence" had to be exceptional.

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up vote 0 down vote

"Essence" means "element". It was believed in the Medieval Age to be the fifth element behind Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

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