essence

Where does the word "essence" come from? It comes from Latin essentia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Essence’s story begins in Latin: essentia meant “being.” Coined by Cicero from 'esse', to be, to translate Greek 'ousia'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as essence. Aristotle's 'ousia', being, was translated by Cicero with 'essentia'. It reached English by 1300s as essence. Perfume 'essences' date from the 1600s. Today, essence means the intrinsic nature of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient essentia "being", coined by Cicero from 'esse', to be, to translate Greek 'ousia'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval essence "essence", Aristotle's 'ousia', being, was translated by Cicero with 'essentia'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s essence "being", perfume 'essences' date from the 1600s.