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Webster 1913 Edition

Essential

Es-sen′tial

(ĕs-sĕn′sjal)
,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
essentiel
. See
Essence
.]
1.
Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class of objects, what it is.
Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an
essential
character of plaintiveness.
Hawthorne.
2.
Hence, really existing; existent.
Is it true, that thou art but a name,
And no
essential
thing?
Webster (1623).
3.
Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment of an object; indispensably necessary.
Judgment’s more
essential
to a general
Than courage.
Denham.
How to live? – that is the
essential
question for us.
H. Spencer.
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.
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.

Es-sen′tial

(ĕs-sĕn′sjal)
,
Noun.
1.
Existence; being.
[Obs.]
Milton.
2.
That which is essential; first or constituent principle;
as, the
essentials
of religion
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Essential

ESSEN'TIAL

,
Adj.
[L. essentialis.] Necessary to the constitution or existence of a thing. Piety and good works are essential to the christian character. Figure and extension are essential properties of bodies.
And if each system in gradation roll,
Alike essential to the amazing whole--
1.
Important in the highest degree.
Judgment is more essential to a general than courage.
2.
Pure; highly rectified. Essential oils are such as are drawn from plants by distillation in an alembic with water, as distinguished from empyreumatic oils, which are raised by a naked fire without water.

ESSEN'TIAL

,
Noun.
Existence; being. [Little used.]
1.
First or constituent principles; as the essentials of religion.
2.
The chief point; that which is most important.

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