Essential character

Essential character
Essential Es*sen"tial ([e^]s*s[e^]n"sjal), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See {Essence}.] 1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is. [1913 Webster]

Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an essential character of plaintiveness. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, really existing; existent. [1913 Webster]

Is it true, that thou art but a name, And no essential thing? --Webster (1623). [1913 Webster]

3. Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment of an object; indispensably necessary. [1913 Webster]

Judgment's more essential to a general Than courage. --Denham. [1913 Webster]

How to live? -- that is the essential question for us. --H. Spencer. [1913 Webster]

4. Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a substance, as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence, unmixed; as, an essential oil. ``Mine own essential horror.'' --Ford. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) Necessary; indispensable; -- said of those tones which constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental or passing tones. [1913 Webster]

6. (Med.) Idiopathic; independent of other diseases. [1913 Webster]

{Essential character} (Biol.), the prominent characteristics which serve to distinguish one genus, species, etc., from another.

{Essential disease}, {Essential fever} (Med.), one that is not dependent on another.

{Essential oils} (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted from plants, fruits, or flowers, having each its characteristic odor, and hot burning taste. They are used in essences, perfumery, etc., and include many varieties of compounds; as {lemon oil} is a terpene, {oil of bitter almonds} an aldehyde, {oil of wintergreen} an ethereal salt, etc.; -- called also {volatile oils} in distinction from the fixed or nonvolatile. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Essential — Es*sen tial ([e^]s*s[e^]n sjal), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See {Essence}.] 1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is. [1913 Webster] Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Essential disease — Essential Es*sen tial ([e^]s*s[e^]n sjal), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See {Essence}.] 1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is. [1913 Webster] Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Essential fever — Essential Es*sen tial ([e^]s*s[e^]n sjal), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See {Essence}.] 1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is. [1913 Webster] Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Essential oils — Essential Es*sen tial ([e^]s*s[e^]n sjal), a. [Cf. F. essentiel. See {Essence}.] 1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is. [1913 Webster] Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Character dancing — is performing a dance of ethnic origin generally used in the context of ballet training.All classical ballets contain slow graceful difficult steps, but often there are interludes in the story where some peasants will enter to perform an… …   Wikipedia

  • character — noun 1 person s nature/person with a particular nature ADJECTIVE ▪ excellent, exemplary, good, impeccable ▪ generous, gentle, likeable, lovable, popular …   Collocations dictionary

  • essential — 1 /I senSFl/ adjective 1 extremely important and necessary in order to do something correctly or successfully: If you re going walking in the mountains, strong boots are essential. (+ for/to): Good food and plenty of exercise are essential for a… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Character — • A consideration of the term as it is used in psychology and ethics Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Character     Character     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • character — I (an individual) noun being, body, figure, human, human being, man, mortal, party, person, personage, personality, self determined being, somebody, someone II (personal quality) noun animus, aspects, attribute, bent, characteristic mood,… …   Law dictionary

  • essential — adj 1 inherent, intrinsic, constitutional, ingrained Analogous words: *innate, inborn, inbred, congenital: inner, inward: elemental (see ELEMENTARY): *characteristic, individual, peculiar, distinctive Antonyms: accidental Contrasted words:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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