esse, sent-, terest-

1. The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.
2. 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.
3. A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.
4. 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, etc.
5. Etymology: from essencia which was respelled in the French format, from Latin essentia, "being" which is from essent-, esse, "to be".

1. Being of the greatest importance of something; inherent: "They decided to pack only the essential items for their camping trip."
2. Basic or indispensable; necessary: essential ingredients: "The cook considered garlic to be an essential component of his soup."

"Free speech is supposed to be an essential right of U.S. citizens."

3. In biochemistry, a substance that is required for normal functioning but cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore it must be included in the diet: "The doctor told him that he had to include essential amino acids in his food consumption."

That which goes beyond what is necessary: When packing her bag for the class trip to the mountains, Jackie put in extraessentials, which included her favorite things and more than what she needed, like lipstick, high heel shoes, etc.

In [one's] absence.

Pronounced in Latin as [in ahb SEN tee uh] but in English as [in ab SEN shuh]. One may be awarded a university degree in absentia or be convicted of a crime in absentia; in the former case because of the inability of someone to appear for the academic ceremony, in the latter because somebody is beyond the reach of the law by being in another country or whose location is unknown.

1. The power of attracting or holding a person's interest because it is unusual, exciting, etc.: "They said nothing of great interest."
2. A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something: "An interest in music."
3. A social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims: "The iron interests stepped up production."
4. A right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something: "They have interests all over the world."
5. A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed: "How much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"
6. A diversion that occupies a person's time and thoughts; usually pleasantly: "He counts reading among his main interests."
7. A reason for wanting something done: "In the interest of safety."
8. Etymology: "legal claim or right; concern; benefit, advantage"; earlier interesse (late 14th century), from Anglo-French interesse, "what one has a legal concern in", from Middle Latin interesse, "compensation for loss", from Latin interresse, "to concern, to make a difference, to be of importance"; literally, "to be between", from inter-, "between" + esse. "to be".

The form was influenced in the 15th century by Old French interest, "damage"; from Latin interest, "it is of importance, it makes a difference", the third person singular present tense of interresse.

The financial sense of "money paid for the use of money lent" (1520's) earlier was distinguished from usury (illegal under Church law) by being a reference to "compensation that is due from a defaulting debtor".

1. To cause someone to want to learn more about something or to become involved in something: "Military history interests me and so that's why I have so many books about this subject."

"It interested him to know that she once lived in Paris, France, too."

2. To persuade a person to have, to take, or to participate in something: "The salesman tried to interest her in a more expensive computer."

"The story in the book was interesting the children more and more as the father read to them."

Attracting people's attention and making them want to learn more about something or to be involved in something that is not dull or boring: "The speaker presented some very interesting reasons as to why there are so many problems with our current economic conditions."

"This culture has an interesting history and so these sutdents want to learn more about it."