[f. as QUINTESSENCE sb. + -IAL: cf. essential and F. quintessenciel (16th c., Paré).] Of the nature of a quintessence; the purest or most refined of its kind.

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1605.  Timme, Quersit., Pref. 6. The æthereal and quintessential physick.

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1681.  H. More, Exp. Dan., v. Notes 157. Mere Quintessential Devils, such as consist onely of envy, pride and malice.

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a. 1711.  Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 32. The … Flow’rs … all strove their quintessential Sweets to drain, Perfuming Earth.

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1823.  Byron, Juan, IX. lxvii. A quintessential laudanum.

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1887.  T. A. Trollope, What I remember, I. ii. 48. Eldon’s quintessential Toryism.

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  Hence Quintessentiality; Quintessentially.

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1838.  New Monthly Mag., LIII. 304. A concentrated quintessentiality of them all.

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1887.  T. A. Trollope, What I remember, I. xv. 315. Quintessentially German in manner.

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