English
essence
Essence comes from Latin essentia ‘the being or essence of a thing’, from esse ‘to be’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek οὐσία ‘being’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEοὐσίαousía‘being’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEesse‘to be’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEessentia‘the being or essence of a thing’artificial formation of esse
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600essence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1667same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEοὐσίαousía‘being’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEesse‘to be’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEessentia‘the being or essence of a thing’artificial formation of esse
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600essence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1667same form
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book I: “For Spirits when they pleaſe / Can either Sex…”
Linked words
through Latin esse ‘to be’
Today it means
noun The inherent nature of a thing or idea.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek οὐσία / essence