essence

1. Philosophy

a. the unchanging and unchangeable nature of something which is necessary to its being the thing it is; its necessary properties

b. the properties in virtue of which something is called by its name

c. the nature of something as distinct from, and logically prior to, its existence

2. Theol an immaterial or spiritual entity

a. the constituent of a plant, usually an oil, alkaloid, or glycoside, that determines its chemical or pharmacological properties

b. an alcoholic solution of such a substance

4. a substance, usually a liquid, containing the properties of a plant or foodstuff in concentrated form

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

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References in periodicals archive

Although Bush had spoken vaguely of INS restructuring during the 2000 campaign, the only immigration-related reform pursued with any vigor during his first year was in essence a massive pander to the Hispanic vote: a proposed amnesty to some of the 3 million Mexicans living and working in the United States illegally.

Borderline insanity: President Bush wants the INS to stop granting visas to terrorists. The biggest obstacle? His own administration

The Americanization Movement was in essence an educational drive to promote the assimilation of the millions of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe who swarmed to the United States on the eve of the First World War.

The naturalizers

Adel Safty's work is in essence a counter to this official version of history, so far as it concerns Americans, Israelis, and I suspect even many Arabs.

From Camp David to the Gulf: Negotiations, Language and Propaganda, and War

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