The Clue
Heart of the matter (7 letter answer)
The Answer
ESSENCE
Tags
Notes
The answer ESSENCE is common and appears about once every 225 puzzles.
Related Clues
In ___ (basically)
Core
Crux
Distillate
Gist
Heart
Lifeblood
Perfume
Pith
Quiddity
Soul
Spirit
Basic nature
Basic quality
Condensed meaning
Core; pith
Crucial element
Heart and soul
A. Huxley's "Ape and ___"
Intrinsic nature
Nitty-gritty
Perfumer's extract
Perfumery product
Vital ingredient
Definition
ESSENCE as a noun:
1. (kernel, substance, core, center, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty) = the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story"
2. any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted
3. (effect, essence, burden, core, gist) = the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
4. (perfume, essence) = a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor