what is the difference between the meaning of the words 'epitome' and 'quintessence'?

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Answer 1

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They both mean pretty much the same thing. The only difference is in their 2nd meanings:

Epitome can mean:

a summary of a written work; an abstract.

• archaic a thing representing something else in miniature.

Quintessence can mean:

the aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character: we were all brought up to believe that advertising is the quintessence of marketing.

• a refined essence or extract of a substance.

• (in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.

Source(s): Mac Dictionary