1. [n]  the most typical example or representative of a type
2. [n]  the purest and most concentrated essence of something
3. [n]  (archaic) the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies

Quintessence
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1. \Quin*tes"sence\, n. [F., fr. L. quinta essentia
   fifth essence. See {Quint}, and {Essence}.]
   1. The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a
      natural body. See {Ferment oils}, under {Ferment}. [Obs.]
   Note: The ancient Greeks recognized four elements, fire, air,
         water, and earth. The Pythagoreans added a fifth and
         called it nether, the fifth essence, which they said
         flew upward at creation and out of it the stars were
         made. The alchemists sometimes considered alcohol, or
         the ferment oils, as the fifth essence.
   2. Hence: An extract from anything, containing its rarest
      virtue, or most subtle and essential constituent in a
      small quantity; pure or concentrated essence.
            Let there be light, said God; and forthwith light
            Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung
            from the deep.                        --Milton.
   

2. \Quin*tes"sence\, v. t.
   To distil or extract as a quintessence; to reduce to a
   quintessence. [R.] --Stirling. ``Truth quintessenced and
   raised to the highest power.'' --J. A. Symonds.