esse
esse — noun
1. the state or fact of existing; being itself, especially as a central concept in
the state or fact of existing; being itself, especially as a central concept in philosophy
Professor Bilal tapped the empty chair. 'Even unused,' he said, 'this chair keeps its esse.'
pattern: using 'esse' in a concrete classroom demonstration
The monk wrote that esse is the gift of existing at every moment.
Putri held up the old letter and explained that long after the ink had faded, its esse remained.
Theo touched the word esse carved above the monastery door and said it named the ground beneath all things.
Lien lit a candle in the dark chapel and called it the closest image of esse she knew.
- nothingness
more common in existentialist philosophy
用法筆記
A technical term in philosophy, especially in medieval and Thomistic thought. Not used in everyday English conversation.
2. the deepest, unchanging nature of something — what it truly is beneath its surfa
the deepest, unchanging nature of something — what it truly is beneath its surface features and changeable traits
After the falling-out, Ishaan scrawled in his notebook that he had mistaken jokes for the esse of friendship.
pattern: 'mistaken [surface trait] for the esse of [relationship]'
Amelia watched the nurses for a week and concluded that the esse of their work was attentiveness.
pattern: 'the esse of [profession] is [core quality]'
Bilal's tutor wrote one question on the blank sheet: 'What is the esse of a promise?'
Vinícius walked through the empty flat and felt that the esse of home had left with his grandmother.
Allison shut her notebook and wrote one line: the esse of a song is the silence it leaves behind.
- accident
in philosophy, a non-essential property that a thing can lose without changing its nature
用法筆記
Often used in formal philosophical or literary contexts to refer to the deepest, unchanging nature of something. Distinguish from sense 1 (EXISTENCE), which is about the bare fact of being rather than inner nature.