Source : WordNet®

in essence
     adj : being the essence or essential element of a thing;
           "substantial equivalents"; "substantive information"
           [syn: {substantial}, {substantive}]
     adv 1: at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature; "He is basically
            dishonest"; "the argument was essentially a technical
            one"; "for all his bluster he is in essence a shy
            person" [syn: {basically}, {fundamentally}, {essentially},
             {au fond}]
     2: with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details;
        "in principle, we agree" [syn: {in principle}, {in theory}]