[L. esse to be, inf. of sum, but used by the schoolmen as a sb.]
1. In med.L. phrase in esse, in actual existence; opposed to in posse, in potentiality.
1592. Nobody & Some-b., 1299. Like a king in Esse … this night, Lets make a hostile uprore in the Court.
1597. Howson, Serm., 31. Our spirituall preferments in esse and in posse.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 169. Some one, that may by common possibility … be in esse at or before the particular estate determines.
1818. Cruise, Digest, VI. 19. All natural persons who are in esse at the time when a will is made.
† 2. Essence, essential nature. Obs.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., 14 Dec. v. 16. The very esse of every Synod doth subsist in a double foundation.
1736. Bailey, Esse [in the school philosophy] is used in the same sense with essence; principally for that which is actual, or actually existing.
