quint-, quinti-, quintu-, quin-

1. Consisting of five parts, or occurring in sets of five.
2. Sets of five, or the fifth member of a set.

1. Pertaining to, characterized by, the number five; consisting of five (things or parts).
2. Of or belonging to the fifth order or rank; fifth in a series.

Used to describe leaves that occur in clusters of five.

An arrangement of five objects in a square, with four at the corners and one in the center. Literally, "five" plus uncia, "a twelfth".

A member of a body, commission, etc., of fifteen men; especially one of the priests who had charge of the Sibylline books.

1. Happening once every fifteen years or a fifteenth anniversary.
2. Lasting for fifteen years.
3. A fifteenth year of existence or duration; fifteenth anniversary.

From Latin quindecim, "fifteen" [quinque, "five" plus decem, "ten" plus -ennial, "year"].

A government consisting of five hundred men.

The fifth essence.

The ancient Greeks said there were four elements, or forms, in which matter could exist: fire, air, water, and earth. The Pythagoreans added a fifth element known as the fifth essence (quintessence) ether [EE thuhr]; more subtle and pure than fire, and consisting of a spherical or circular motion that flew upwards at creation and formed the basis of the stars.

It was considered the ultimate substance of which the heavenly bodies were thought to be composed. Now the word stands for the essential principle or the most subtle extract [pure, undiluted essence] of a body that can be obtained.