What is quintessence?

In physics (as this is the physics section), quintessence is one of the hypothesized possible states of the dark energy observed in cosmological data.

Quintessence, literally fifth essence (from Latin quinta essentia), can refer :

Aether (classical element), the fifth classical element after earth, fire, water and air

Quintessence (physics), a hypothetical form of dark energy; postulated to explain the accelerating universe

Quintessence (English band), a 1970s progressive rock band specializing in Indian themes and sounds

Quintessence (Finnish band), a Nu soul band led by singer Emma Salokoski

Quintessence (Borknagar album)

Quintessence (W.I.T.C.H.)

Quintessence (The Soil Bleeds Black album)

Quintessenz (German for quintessence), an Austrian on-line civil liberties advocacy organization

"Quintessence", from the Mage: the Ascension role-playing game series; a fundamental form of energy

In the game Fire Emblem, quintessence is the name given to the life force of living beings.

In DC Comics, the Quintessence is a group of cosmic beings who counsel one another, including (usually) Shazam, Zeus, Highfather, The Phantom Stranger, Ganthet and The Spectre.

"Quintessence" is the title of a Salvation Army brass band composition written by Robert Readhead for the Melbourne Staff Band to perform at the 1978 Salvation Army International Congress

A song from the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone's Album Panzerfaust

Take your pick.

Although some of the answers appear to be correct ie the purest form of a substance, no-one has stated what I believe to be its derivation. Using a simple pot still, it is a rule of thumb that one needs to distill fermented vegetable matter 5 times to obtain alcohol (C2H5OH) of a high purity. Hence, pure alcohol is the 5th essence of the fermented product - so it is the quintessential product.

1 : the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies

2 : the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form

webster

the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water , was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

hope this helps you

Another name for dark energy, or Einstein's 'cosmological constant'.

The perfect thing that ya can possibly imagine i guess dude, as in 'quintisentially' ideal for my purposes!.....