essence: [14] Essence and its derivative essential [14] are the English descendants of the Latin verb ‘to be’, esse (which came ultimately from the Indo-European base *es- ‘be’, source also of English is). From it was formed the abstract noun essentia ‘being, existence’, acquired by English through Old French essence. In the adjective essential, the sense ‘absolutely necessary’ developed via ‘inherent’ and ‘indispensable’ in the 16th century. => is
essence (n.)
late 14c., essencia (respelled late 15c. on French model), from Latin essentia "being, essence," abstract noun formed (to translate Greek ousia "being, essence") from essent-, present participle stem of esse "to be," from PIE *es- "to be" (cognates: Sanskrit asmi, Hittite eimi, Old Church Slavonic jesmi, Lithuanian esmi, Gothic imi, Old English eom "I am;" see be).
Originally "substance of the Trinity;" the general sense of "basic element of anything" is first recorded in English 1650s, though this is the underlying notion of the first English use of essential. Meaning "ingredient which gives something its particular character" is from c. 1600, especially of distilled oils from plants (1650s), hence "fragrance, perfume" (17c.). In 19c. U.S., essence-peddler could mean "medical salesman" and "skunk."
实用例句
1. Though off-puttingly complicated in detail, local taxes are in essence simple.
虽然地税在细节上复杂得要命，但在本质上却很简单。来自柯林斯例句
2. Speed was of the essence in a project of this type.
对于这种项目来说，速度至关重要。来自柯林斯例句
3. Others claim that Ireland's very essence is expressed through the language.
其他人声称爱尔兰最精髓的东西是通过语言表现出来的。来自柯林斯例句
4. Time is of the essence.
时间是至关重要的。来自柯林斯例句
5. The essence of dialectical thought is division.
