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CEFR C2 — Proficiency

Quintessence

Definition

(philosophical/literary) The most perfect or typical example of something; the essence or embodiment of a particular quality or idea. Often used to convey the idea of something being the ultimate or most refined expression of its kind.

Example Sentences

1The novel is often regarded as the quintessence of modernist literature, capturing the disillusionment and fragmentation of the post-war era.
2For many, the Mona Lisa represents the quintessence of Renaissance art, embodying the enigmatic and the sublime.
3The concept of the 'quintessence' has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, where it referred to the fifth element or essence that made up the universe.
4In alchemy, the quintessence was believed to be the ultimate goal of the Great Work, a substance that would confer spiritual enlightenment and material perfection.
5The poet's use of imagery and metaphor achieves a quintessence of language, distilling the essence of human experience into a few, well-chosen words.

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