quiddities

quid·di·ty

[kwid-i-tee]
noun, plural quid·di·ties.
1.
the quality that makes a thing what it is; the essential nature of a thing.
2.
a trifling nicety of subtle distinction, as in argument.

Origin:
1530–40; < Medieval Latin quidditās, equivalent to Latin quid what + -itās -ity

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World English Dictionary
quiddity (ˈkwɪdɪtɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -ties
1.  philosophy Compare haecceity the essential nature of something
2.  a petty or trifling distinction; quibble
 
[C16: from Medieval Latin quidditās, from Latin quid what]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Quiddities is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

quiddity
1539, "captious nicety in argument" from M.L. quidditas, lit. "whatness," from L. quid "what," neut. of quis (see who). Sense developed from scholastic disputes over the nature of things. Original meaning "real essence or nature of a thing" is attested in Eng. from 1569.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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