Essence vs. Spirit — What's the Difference?

Essence (Latin: essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. Essence is contrasted with accident: a property that the entity or substance has contingently, without which the substance can still retain its identity.

The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character

The prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter and used for flavouring or scent

Strong distilled alcoholic drink such as brandy, whisky, gin, or rum.

The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something

A highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.

(Philosophy) The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence.

Convey rapidly and secretly

The most important part or aspect of something

A force or principle believed to animate living beings.

An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.

A force or principle believed to animate humans and often to endure after departing from the body of a person at death; the soul.

Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.

Spirit The Holy Spirit.

A perfume or scent.

An angel or demon.

One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated

A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon.

Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.

A fairy or sprite.

The inherent nature of a thing or idea.

The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings

(philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.

The essential nature of a person or group.

Constituent substance.

A person as characterized by a stated quality

A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.

An inclination or tendency of a specified kind

A significant feature of something.

A pervasive or essential attitude, quality, or principle

The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.

An attitude marked by enthusiasm, energy, or courage

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter used for flavouring, or as a restorative.

Spirits A mood or emotional state

Fragrance, a perfume.

Strong loyalty or dedication

The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.

The actual though unstated sense or significance of something

The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.

Often spirits (used with a sing. verb) An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance.

Constituent substance.

Spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.

A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.

To carry off mysteriously or secretly

The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like.

To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.

Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.

The soul of a person or other creature.

To perfume; to scent.

A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.

The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;

Enthusiasm.

Any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted

The manner or style of something.

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

Energy; ardour.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.

(obsolete) Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

(obsolete) A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.

Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.

Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

(dyeing) Stannic chloride.

To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.

Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.

Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.

A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing.

Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.

Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.

Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.

Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.

One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.

Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; - often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits.

Intent; real meaning; - opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.

Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): - often in the plural.

Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture.

Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.

To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; - sometimes followed by up.

To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; - often with away, or off.

The vital principle or animating force within living things

The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;

A fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character

Any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings

The state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection);

The intended meaning of a communication

Animation and energy in action or expression;

An inclination or tendency of a certain kind;

Infuse with spirit;