| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | actuality | real nature or existence |
| 2. | air | general impression or character |
| 3. | animating principle | driving life or core force |
| 4. | aspect | particular side or feature |
| 5. | attribute | inherent quality or feature |
| 6. | aura | distinctive quality or atmosphere |
| 7. | basics | most important underlying elements |
| 8. | basis | underlying support or essence |
| 9. | bedrock | fundamental underlying basis |
| 10. | being | essential nature or existence |
| 11. | bottom line | main point or essential truth |
| 12. | burden | main point or meaning |
| 13. | center | main or essential part |
| 14. | character | distinctive nature or quality |
| 15. | concentrate | condensed essential substance |
| 16. | constitution | basic composition or nature |
| 17. | core | central part or most important element |
| 18. | crux | most important point or feature |
| 19. | defining quality | trait that most identifies something |
| 20. | distillate | purified concentrated extract |
| 21. | drift | general meaning or tendency |
| 22. | element | basic or essential part |
| 23. | entity | something’s real existence or nature |
| 24. | essential nature | basic defining character |
| 25. | essential part | most important component |
| 26. | essential quality | defining important trait |
| 27. | ethos | guiding spirit or character |
| 28. | extract | concentrated essence from something |
| 29. | fabric | underlying structure or makeup |
| 30. | feature | important characteristic or part |
| 31. | flavor | distinctive quality or character |
| 32. | form | essential shape or character |
| 33. | foundation | basic underlying support or nature |
| 34. | fundamentals | basic essential elements |
| 35. | genius | distinctive spirit or character |
| 36. | gist | main point or basic meaning |
| 37. | grain | natural character or tendency |
| 38. | ground | underlying basis or reason |
| 39. | groundwork | basic underlying structure or idea |
| 40. | hallmark | distinctive identifying feature |
| 41. | heart | innermost or most important part |
| 42. | identity | who or what something truly is |
| 43. | import | meaning or significance |
| 44. | inmost self | deepest inner identity |
| 45. | inner being | deepest self or nature |
| 46. | inner core | deep central part |
| 47. | inner nature | deepest basic character |
| 48. | inwardness | inner quality or nature |
| 49. | juice | essential substance or vitality |
| 50. | kernel | central or essential part |
| 51. | keynote | central idea or dominant quality |
| 52. | leitmotif | recurring central theme |
| 53. | life force | vital driving energy |
| 54. | lifeblood | vital sustaining force |
| 55. | main point | most important idea or fact |
| 56. | makeup | composition or essential character |
| 57. | marrow | most important or valuable part |
| 58. | material | substance something consists of |
| 59. | matter | substance or essential concern |
| 60. | meaning | real sense or significance |
| 61. | message | central meaning or point |
| 62. | nature | basic character or quality |
| 63. | nub | central point or essence |
| 64. | oil | essential extract or substance |
| 65. | pith | essential substance or meaning |
| 66. | point | essential idea or significance |
| 67. | principle | basic truth or essential rule |
| 68. | property | inherent quality or characteristic |
| 69. | purport | intended meaning or substance |
| 70. | quality | distinctive feature or character |
| 71. | quintessence | purest or most perfect example |
| 72. | raison d’être | fundamental reason for being |
| 73. | real self | true inner identity |
| 74. | reality | true nature of something |
| 75. | root | basic source or essential part |
| 76. | ruling idea | dominant central idea |
| 77. | sap | vital essence or energy |
| 78. | savor | distinctive quality or character |
| 79. | seed | basic source or core |
| 80. | soul | deepest or truest part |
| 81. | spirit | basic feeling or true meaning |
| 82. | stuff | basic material or substance |
| 83. | substance | essential meaning or reality |
| 84. | sum | essential point or whole meaning |
| 85. | tenor | general meaning or character |
| 86. | theme | main underlying idea |
| 87. | thread | continuous central idea |
| 88. | thrust | main emphasis or purpose |
| 89. | tone | general character or feeling |
| 90. | trait | distinguishing quality or characteristic |
| 91. | true nature | real basic character |
| 92. | truth | actual or essential reality |
| 93. | underpinning | supporting essential basis |
| 94. | vein | prevailing character or tendency |
| 95. | very heart | deepest central part |
| 96. | vital part | most necessary element |
| 97. | vital principle | essential operating idea |
| 98. | vitality | life force or energy |
| 99. | warp and woof | basic structure or substance |
| 100. | what it is | true nature of something |