01 n. The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it?
pl.
Quiddities ((#))
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1.
The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it?“The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as distinguished from prose.” — De Quincey.
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2.
A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble.“We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now.” — Coleridge.