QUIDDITY

quiddity, haecceity

(noun) the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other

quibble, quiddity, cavil

(noun) an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

quiddity (plural quiddities)

(philosophy) The essence or inherent nature of a person or thing.

(legal) A trifle; a nicety or quibble.

An eccentricity; an odd feature.

Synonyms

• (essence): nature, quintessence, whatness; See also essence

Coordinate terms

• (essence): quality

Source: Wiktionary

Quid"di*ty, n.; pl. Quiddities. Etym: [LL. quidditas, fr. L. quid what, neut. of quis who, akin to E. who: cf. F. quiddité.]

1. The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est or, What is it " The degree of nullity and quiddity." Bacon. The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as distinguished from prose. De Quincey.

2. A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble. We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now. Coleridge.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition