in esse
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In actual existence (Lat. essey to be), as opposed to in posse, in potentiality. Thus a hying child is "in esse," but before birth is only *'tn posse.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in esse” mean?
In actual existence (Lat. essey to be), as opposed to in posse, in potentiality. Thus a hying child is "in esse," but before birth is only *'tn posse.
Is “in esse” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.