Meaning of IN ESSENCE

WordNet Dictionary
	Definition:		[adv]  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" [adv]  with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details; "in principle, we agree" [adj]  being the essence or essential element of a thing; "substantial equivalents"; "substantive information"
	Synonyms:		au fond, basically, essential, essentially, fundamentally, in principle, in theory, substantial, substantive