word
quintessential
kwin-tih-SEN-shul
ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃəlListen
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Syllable breakdown
quintessential
Sounds like
Say 'kwin-tih-SEN-shul'.
Dictionary meaning
Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
History and origin
Medieval Latin — 'quinta essentia' (the fifth essence — the purest extract of any substance).
Examples
- The village green, cricket and warm beer — the quintessential English summer.
Common mispronunciations
kwin-teh-SEN-shulKWIN-tih-sen-shul
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