oil of wintergreen

oil of wintergreen
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.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • oil of wintergreen — n a preparation of methyl salicylate obtained by distilling the leaves of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) called also gaultheria oil, wintergreen oil compare BIRCH OIL …   Medical dictionary

  • oil of wintergreen — noun oil or flavoring obtained from the creeping wintergreen or teaberry plant • Syn: ↑wintergreen oil • Hypernyms: ↑flavorer, ↑flavourer, ↑flavoring, ↑flavouring, ↑seasoner, ↑seasoning …   Useful english dictionary

  • oil of wintergreen — noun The aromatic oil obtained from the berries of the wintergreen plant; mostly methyl salicylate; used medicinally and in perfumes …   Wiktionary

  • oil of wintergreen — Date: 1857 the methyl ester of salicylic acid that is used as a flavoring and as a counterirritant …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • oil of wintergreen. — See methyl salicylate. [1835 45] * * * …   Universalium

  • oil of wintergreen — methyl salicylate …   Eponyms, nicknames, and geographical games

  • oil of wintergreen. — See methyl salicylate. [1835 45] …   Useful english dictionary

  • wintergreen — [ wintɛrgrin; wintɶrgrin ] n. m. • 1843; mot angl. « gaulthérie » ♦ Essence de wintergreen : huile essentielle, extraite des feuilles de gaulthérie ou de l écorce de bouleau, employée en parfumerie. ● wintergreen nom masculin (anglais wintergreen …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Wintergreen — is a group of plants. Wintergreen once commonly referred to plants that continue photosynthesis (remain green) throughout the winter. The term evergreen is now more commonly used for this characteristic.Some species of the shrub genus Gaultheria… …   Wikipedia

  • wintergreen — ► NOUN 1) a low growing plant with spikes of white bell shaped flowers. 2) an American shrub whose leaves produce oil. 3) (also oil of wintergreen) a pungent oil obtained from these plants or from birch bark, used medicinally and as a flavouring …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”