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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Essential \Es*sen"tial\ ([e^]s*s[e^]n"sjal), a. [Cf. F.
essentiel. See {Essence}.]
1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object,
or class of objects, what it is.
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Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was
forever in it an essential character of
plaintiveness. --Hawthorne.
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2. Hence, really existing; existent.
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Is it true, that thou art but a name,
And no essential thing? --Webster
(1623).
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3. Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the
attainment of an object; indispensably necessary.
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Judgment's more essential to a general
Than courage. --Denham.
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How to live? -- that is the essential question for
us. --H. Spencer.
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4. Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a
substance, as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence,
unmixed; as, an essential oil. "Mine own essential
horror." --Ford.
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5. (Mus.) Necessary; indispensable; -- said of those tones
which constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental
or passing tones.
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6. (Med.) Idiopathic; independent of other diseases.
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{Essential character} (Biol.), the prominent characteristics
which serve to distinguish one genus, species, etc., from
another.

{Essential disease}, {Essential fever} (Med.), one that is
not dependent on another.

{Essential oils} (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted
from plants, fruits, or flowers, having each its
characteristic odor, and hot burning taste. They are used
in essences, perfumery, etc., and include many varieties
of compounds; as {lemon oil} is a terpene, {oil of bitter
almonds} an aldehyde, {oil of wintergreen} an ethereal
salt, etc.; -- called also {volatile oils} in distinction
from the fixed or nonvolatile.
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Essential \Es*sen"tial\ ([e^]s*s[e^]n"sjal), n.
1. Existence; being. [Obs.] --Milton.
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2. That which is essential; first or constituent principle;
as, the essentials of religion.
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