catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  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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     5. (Mus.) Necessary; indispensable; -- said of those tones
        which constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental
        or passing tones.
  
     6. (Med.) Idiopathic; independent of other diseases.
  
     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.