different between quintessential vs definitive

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kw?nt.??s?n.??l/

Etymology

quintessence +? -al

Adjective

quintessential (comparative more quintessential, superlative most quintessential)

1. Of the nature of a quintessence (in all senses); ultimate.

Derived terms

• quintessentialise
• quintessentiality
• quintessentialize
• quintessentially
• quintessentialness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French définitif.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??f?n.?t.?v/

Adjective

definitive (comparative more definitive, superlative most definitive)

1. explicitly defined
2. conclusive or decisive

3. definite, authoritative and complete
   • 1838, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic

     Some definitive […] scheme of reconciliation.

4. limiting; determining

5. (philately) general, not issued for commemorative purposes
6. (obsolete) Determined; resolved.
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Measure, for Measure, V. i. 424:

     Never crave him. We are definitive.

Derived terms

• definitively

Translations

Noun

definitive (plural definitives)

1. (grammar) a word, such as a definite article or demonstrative pronoun, that defines or limits something
2. (philately) an ordinary postage stamp that is part of a series of all denominations or is reprinted as needed to meet demand

   Synonym: definitive stamp

Translations

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /defini?tive/
• Rhymes: -ive

Adverb

definitive

1. definitively

German

Adjective

definitive

1. inflection of definitiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Adjective

definitive

1. feminine plural of definitivo

Anagrams

• definitevi

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /de?.fi?.ni??ti?.u?e/, [d?e?fi?ni??t?i?u??]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /de.fi.ni?ti.ve/, [d??fini?t?i?v?]

Adjective

d?f?n?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of d?f?n?t?vus

References

• definitive in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• definitive in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette