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Quintessence vs Archetype - What's the difference?

quintessence | archetype |

As nouns the difference between quintessence and archetype

is that quintessence is a thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something while archetype is an original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype.

As verbs the difference between quintessence and archetype

is that quintessence is {{cx|transitive|lang=en}} To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence while archetype is to depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.

quintessence

Noun

  • A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something.
  • A pure substance.
  • The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.
  • (alchemy) The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water
  • (physics) A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * quintessential * quintessentially

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To reduce to its purest and most concentrated essence.
  • References

    * * *

    archetype

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype
  • (literature) A character, story, or object that is based on a known character, story, or object.
  • An ideal example of something; a quintessence.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012
  • , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=“New Kid On The Block” doubles as a terrific showcase for the Sea Captain who, in the grand tradition of Simpsons supporting characters, quickly goes from being a stereotype to an archetype , from being a crusty sea-captain character to the crusty sea-captain character.}}
  • (psychology) According to the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, a universal pattern of thought, present in an individual's unconscious, inherited from the past collective experience of humanity.
  • Usage notes

    Traditionally archetype'' refers to the model upon which something is based, but it has also come to mean an example of a personality archetype, particularly a fictional character in a story based on a well-established personality model. In this fashion, a character ''based'' on the Jesus archetype might be referred to as a "Jesus archetype". See ''eponym for a similar usage conflict.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

  • To depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.
  • * '>citation
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