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Essence

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the intrinsic nature of something

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

essentia→essence→essence

Latin · ancient

coined by Cicero from 'esse', to be, to translate Greek 'ousia'

Old French · medieval

Aristotle's 'ousia', being, was translated by Cicero with 'essentia'

English · 1300s

perfume 'essences' date from the 1600s

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Read the full story

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.