Both Uses of
essential
in
Running in the Family
- The rebels against the government consisted of thousands from every walk of life—but essentially the young.†
p. 100.0 *essentially = basically (in all important respects; or relating to the basic nature of something)
- During all the months of soberness the two of them were equals, very close and full of humour, but in his moments of darkness she drew on every play she had been in or had read and used it as a weapon, knowing that when my father sobered up this essentially shy man would be appalled to hear how my mother had over-reacted.†
p. 171.4
Definition:
necessary or important; or a basic and defining part of something