1. essential nature or being; existence or essence (used chiefly in philosophy)
Usage: formal; philosophical; often used in the phrase 'in esse' (in actual existence) or 'in posse' (in potential existence)

Examples

• The philosopher debated whether God's esse is necessary or contingent.
• In medieval theology, esse refers to the act of being itself.
• The distinction between esse and posse was central to Scholastic thought.
• Aquinas argued that in God, essence and esse are identical.