Middle English Dictionary Entry
essenciā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | essenciā̆l adj. |
| Etymology | L essentiālis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Phil. Of the essence, having real or true being (as distinguished from accidental existence); real, true, fundamental; (b) of words or attributes: denoting something that is of the (divine) essence, i.e. not accidental; (c) distinctive or fundamental (character or difference); (d) absolute or supreme (joy).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130a/b : Som fourme is essencial & som accidental; essencyal fourme is þilke þat comeþ in to matiere and makeþ it perfit.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)95/21 : The parties essential of being arn sayd in double wyse..[in] every creature is difference bitwene being of him through whom it is, and his own being.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9a/b : Eueriche name..þat is I seyde of god tokeneth essenciam, oþir nocionem, oþir personam.. A noun essencial is substantif oþer adiectiue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)10a/a : If þe substantiues beþ essensial, þese adiectiues beþ also.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)45/12 : Infinite Trouthe .. by our good dedis may nat be amendid nor by our diffaultes empeired, but taketh ouir all maner of people egall and rightfull iustice, nat onely by vs, nor for vs, but by th'essenciall perfeccion of His naturall bounte.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)20b/a : Aposteme as anence his essenciale þingez is diffined bi G[alien]..and bi Auicen.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)85b/b : Þe virulent sanie is not essensiale difference of it bot þe callosite.
d
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)17/24 : For þe souerayne and þe Escencyalle Ioy es in þe lufe of Godd by hym-selfe and for hym-selfe, and þe secundarye es in comonynge and byhaldynge of Aungells and gastely creaturs.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)144 : Bisidis þis essencial and princypal joie..which schal be ȝouun to vs if we schulen be saued, we schulen haue oþere accidental joies or secundaries joies.