quintessence

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype.

   “As families and kindreds sometimes do; producing, after long ages of unnoted notability, some living quintescence of all the qualities they had, to flame forth as a man world-noted […]”

   “The Pagans did well enough; I cordially admire the refinement of their minds; but it has been reserved for a Christian country to attain this extreme, this quintessence, this absolute of poignancy.”

2. (countable, uncountable)A pure substance.
3. (countable, uncountable)The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.

   “For vvhat is ſilke but eu'n a Quinteſſence, / Made vvithout hands beyond al humane ſenſe? / A quinteſſence? nay vvel it may be call'd, / A deathleſſe tincture, ſent vs from the skies, / VVhoſe colour ſtands, vvhose gloſſe is ne're appalld, […]”

   “Let ther be Light, ſaid God, and forthwith Light, / Ethereal, firſt of things, quinteſſence pure, / Sprung from the Deep, […]”

4. (countable, uncountable)The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere.
5. (countable, uncountable)A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.

verb

1. (transitive)To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.