Quiddity (noun)
kwid-it-ee
The essential nature of a thing.
Quiddity is from the Latin word, quidditās, meaning “essence” or “whatness.” Quintessence or quintessential refer to the perfect embodiment of something and also derive from the same Latin root, quid, meaning “what.” Quiddity was first recorded in 1350–1400.
Example sentences
“It goes against the quiddity of the organisation.”
Wonky (adj) won-kee Not straight or balanced, off kilter. First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol. (more…)