Quintessential

Something that’s “quintessential” (kwin-tuh-SEN-shul) – Latin for “fifth essence” – represents the perfect embodiment of a class or quality. (In ancient times, people believed that the world was composed of four elements: air, fire, earth, and water. The fifth element – or essence – was what the heavenly bodies were made of.)

Example (as used by Don Hauptman today): “I’m the quintessential business coward.”

[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker ... build your self-confidence and intellect ... increase your attractiveness to others ... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's new Words to the Wise CD Library.]

Copyright ETR, LLC, 2009