quintessential

kwin-tuh-SEN-shuhl, adjective

Representing the most perfect example of a quality or type.

“The corner diner is the quintessential American restaurant: coffee, counter, and pie.”

Where quintessential comes from

The fifth essence, which alchemists thought the stars were made of.

Difficulty: intermediate. One of 440 entries written and checked by hand.

Hapax puts one word like this on your Lock Screen every morning, with its pronunciation, definition and an example. No ads, no account.

tenacious Holding firmly to a goal or position; persistent and not easily discouraged.
ambivalent Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something.
benevolent Kind and generous, wishing to do good for others.
coherent Logical and consistent; holding together as a clear whole.
elusive Difficult to find, catch, or pin down.
frugal Careful with money or resources; avoiding waste.
lucid Expressed clearly and easy to understand; mentally sharp.
aloof Cool and distant in manner; not friendly or forthcoming.