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Essence vs Elixir - What's the difference?

essence | elixir | Synonyms |

Essence is a synonym of elixir.


As nouns the difference between essence and elixir

is that essence is (senseid)the inherent nature of a thing or idea while elixir is elixir (pharmacy: sweet taste-masking liquid).

essence

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (senseid)The inherent nature of a thing or idea.
  • * Landor
    • The laws are at present, both in form and essence , the greatest curse that society labours under.
  • * Addison
    • Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this virtue [charity].
  • * Courthorpe
    • The essence of Addison's humour is irony.
  • (philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.
  • Constituent substance.
  • * Milton
    • Uncompounded is their essence pure.
  • A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.
  • * Milton
    • As far as gods and heavenly essences / Can perish.
  • * Washington Irving
    • He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences , until he had an ideal world of his own around him.
  • A significant feature of something.
  • The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.
  • * essence of Jojoba
  • Fragrance, a perfume.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Nor let the essences exhale.

    Derived terms

    * in essence * of the essence; time is of the essence

    Related terms

    * essential * essentialism * quintessential

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    elixir

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (alchemy) A liquid which converts lead to gold.
  • * 2002 , Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction , Oxford 2004, p. 59:
    • For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir , the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.
  • A liquid which is believed to cure all ills and gives eternal life.
  • (pharmacy) A sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste.

    • Derived terms

    * elixir of life