whatness
English
editEtymology
editNoun
editwhatness (plural whatnesses)
- (philosophy) Essence; quiddity.
- Quality; quantity.
- 1961, Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Metaphysics of Aristotle: Volume 2:
- For in one sense whatness signifies substance and this particular thing, and in another sense it signifies each of the other categories, such as quantity, quality and the like.
Synonyms
edit- (essence; quiddity): nature, quintessence; See also Thesaurus:essence