ESSENTIALLY
basically, fundamentally, essentially
(adverb) in essence; at bottom or by one’s (or its) very nature; “He is basically dishonest”; “the argument was essentially a technical one”; “for all his bluster he is in essence a shy person”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adverb
essentially (comparative more essentially, superlative most essentially)
in an essential manner; in essence
Synonyms
• actually, at bottom, at heart, basically, centrally, characteristically, factually, fundamentally, in essence, in the main, inherently, intrinsically, naturally, substantially
• See also intrinsically or fundamentally
Source: Wiktionary
Es*sen"tial*ly, adv.
Definition: In an essential manner or degree; in an indispensable degree;
really; as, essentially different.
ESSENTIAL
Es*sen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. essentiel. See Essence.]
1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class
of objects, what it is.
Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an
essential character of plaintiveness. Hawthorne.
2. Hence, really existing; existent.
Is it true, that thou art but a a name, And no essential thing
Webster (1623).
3. Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment
of an object; indispensably necessary.
Judgment's more essential to a general Than courage. Denham.
How to live -- that is the essential question for us. H. Spencer.
4. Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a substance,
as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence, unmixed; as, an
essential oil. "Mine own essential horror." Ford.
5. (Mus.)
Definition: Necessary; indispensable; -- said of those tones which
constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental or passing tones.
6. (Med.)
Definition: Idiopathic; independent of other diseases. Essential character
(Biol.), the prominent characteristics which serve to distinguish one
genus, species, etc., from another.
– Essential disease, Essential fever (Med.), one that is not
dependent on another.
– Essential oils (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted from
plants, fruits, or flowers, having each its characteristic odor, and
hot burning taste. They are used in essences, perfumery, etc., and
include many varieties of compounds; as lemon oil is a terpene, oil
of bitter almonds an aldehyde, oil of wintergreen an ethereal salt,
etc.; -- called also volatile oils in distinction from the fixed or
nonvolatile.
Es*sen"tial, n.
1. Existence; being. [Obs.] Milton.
2. That which is essential; first or constituent principle; as, the
essentials or religion.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition