quiddity
/ˈkwɪdɪti/
noun
- The essential nature or quality of something; what makes something what it is.
- To understand the quiddity of jazz, you have to feel its rhythm.
- The quiddity of a good teacher is patience and a love of learning.
- Philosophers have long debated the quiddity of consciousness.
- A subtle or quirky distinction; a trivial point of argument.
- The lawyers argued over the quiddity of the contract's wording.
- He loved to debate the quiddities of grammar rules.
- Don't get lost in quiddities when the main issue is clear.