Words / C1

PITH/pɪθ/

Pith is the most important part of a speech, argument, or idea: the pith of the abstract, the pith of the minute. Essence (already in the dictionary) is the close twin; adjectives will not fill a cell.

Meaning

The most important part of a speech or idea (from essence, already in the dictionary).

Examples

• “The pith of the abstract is the raw n, not the adjectives.”
• “Essence is already in this course. Core is already in this course. Adjectives are branding. A cell is a count. Put the number in; then keep the adjectives if the finding still stands.”

Good to know

The essential core. Close: essence (already in the dictionary). Adjectives ≠ a filled n.

Near in meaning

essence, core, nub

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