'Quiddity' definitions:
Definition of 'quiddity'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Quiddity'
From: GCIDE
- Quiddity \Quid"di*ty\, n.; pl. Quiddities. [LL. quidditas, fr. L. quid what, neut. of quis who, akin to E. who: cf. F. quiddit['e].]
- 1. The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it? " The degree of nullity and quiddity." --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as distinguished from prose. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble. [1913 Webster]
- We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'quiddity'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- axiom,
- cavil,
- center,
- core,
- dodge,
- elixir,
- essence,
- essential,
- flower,
- focus,
- fundamental,
- gist,
- gravamen,
- heart,
- hypostasis,
- inner essence,
- jesuitism,
- kernel,
- marrow,
- meat,
- nub,
- nucleus,
- nuts and bolts,
- pith,
- postulate,
- principle,
- quibble,
- quid,
- quillet,
- quintessence,
- quip,
- quirk,
- quodlibet,
- sap,
- shuffle,
- soul,
- spirit,
- stuff,
- substance,
- the nitty-gritty