Quintessential

kwɪnˈtɛsənʃəl

adjective

representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class

The word 'quintessential' comes from medieval alchemy, where alchemists believed that there were five elements: earth, fire, water, air, and quintessence. Quintessence was considered the pure essence that unified all elements, and thus 'quintessential' came to mean the most perfect or essential manifestation of something.

See how James Joyce and Neal Stephenson use "quintessential", with its meaning, pronunciation and real book examples.