Posted on 03/01/2006 6:08:32 AM PST by VRWCmember
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
quintessence • \kwin-TESS-unss\ • noun
1. the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies
2. the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form *
3. the most typical example or representative
* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
Other forms:
quin·tes·sen·tial /"kwin-t&-'sen(t)-sh&l/ adjective
quin·tes·sen·tial·ly adverb
Example sentence:
"Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred." (Arthur Schopenhauer, Counsels and Maxims)
Did you know?
Long ago, when people believed that the earth was made up of four elements -— earth, air, fire, and water —- they thought the stars and planets were made up of yet another element. In the Middle Ages, people called this element by its Medieval Latin name, "quinta essentia," literally, "fifth essence." Our forebears believed the quinta essentia was essential to all kinds of matter, and if they could somehow isolate it, it would cure all disease. We have since given up on that idea, but we kept "quintessence," the offspring of "quinta essentia," as a word for the purest essence of a thing. Modern physicists have given "quintessence" a new twist—they use it for a form of so-called "dark energy," which is believed to make up 70 percent of the universe.
Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.
The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Threads:
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
Review Thread Four: Word For the Day, Friday 7/25/03: Potation
Review Thread Five: Word For the Day, Monday 8/19/03: Stolid
Review Thread Six: Word for the Day, Tuesday 11/09/2004: Peripatetic (Post #125 may be my best anagram post ever)
OMG truthy congrats! the lineage is secured. a male heir!
we will need a PHOTO asap. as i recall the granddaughter was featured here almost immediately. you must do the same for the male heir!
Here are some bubble gum cigars for you to pass out.
Wonderful news Truthie!!!!!!
Outstanding. He looks like a keeper.
what an adorable little bundle! he looks like his gramps! ; )
Thanks. I am pretty excited. My son is delirious. His wife and child are doing very well. The baby is 7 lbs 13 oz and is in fine shape.
I'll get to meet the little guy today. Hopefully, we'll get some better pix. This one was taken with a cell-phone camera.
we will need the three generations of TRUTHY MEN shot, make sure you get one of those!
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHh - so sweet :)
Good one. I'll pass that along to my sisters...
Ahhhh - quintessence - that elusive fifth element. Like a "high five" from your favorite alchemist. The "stuff" heavenly bodies are made of. Undoubtedly the Coca Cola Bottling Company has plans to bring this delightful drink to a Wal-Mart shelf near you. T'would be pluperfect, I tell ya!
In other elemental news, I recently discovered that I am an earth sign, and my wife is a water sign - together we make mud!
I'll see what we can do. Shooting seems a bit harsh, though.
bump. I'd like to be pinged for the daily word.
fair enough. flogged seems good enough....
He is precious! Congratulations to the Truthy family!
Thanks - I thought it was really sweet.
Thank goodness he was born on Feb 28 instead of Feb 29. Those poor kids get ripped off on birthdays.
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