Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
The essence of a particular thing that gives it its unique particularity; those qualities that make an individual this specific individual and not some other.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: thisness
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: quiddity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty
History
From Medieval Latin haecceitas (“thisness”) coined by Duns Scotus (from haec (“this, these”)) + -ity.
Across languages
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.
