The difference between Quiddity and Quintessence

When used as nouns, quiddity means the essence or inherent nature of a person or thing, whereas quintessence means a thing that is the most perfect example of its type.


Quintessence is also verb with the meaning: to reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.

check bellow for the other definitions of Quiddity and Quintessence

  1. Quiddity as a noun (philosophy):

    The essence or inherent nature of a person or thing.

  2. Quiddity as a noun (legal):

    A trifle; a nicety or quibble.

  3. Quiddity as a noun:

    An eccentricity; an odd feature.

  1. Quintessence as a noun:

    A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype.

  2. Quintessence as a noun:

    A pure substance.

  3. Quintessence as a noun:

    The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.

  4. Quintessence as a noun (alchemy):

    The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water

  5. Quintessence as a noun (physics):

    A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.

  1. Quintessence as a verb (transitive):

    To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.

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