Now rare. [f. prec. sb. Cf. F. quintessencier (1611 in Cotgr.).] trans. a. To extract the quintessence of. b. To take out of (something) as a quintessence.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 25. I quint-essence the Poets soule.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 154. It is a kind of Alchimical quintessensing a heauen out of earth.
1638. Drumm. of Hawth., Irene, Wks. (1711), 170. For quintessencing and alembicking thee, and using thee, as alchymists do gold.
1844. For. Q. Rev., XXXIII. 186. The science of the cook consists … in quintessencing (so to speak) the viands.
