adverb
in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature (Freq. 7)
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He is basically dishonest
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the argument was essentially a technical one
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for all his bluster he is in essence a shy person
• Syn: ↑fundamentally, ↑essentially
• Derived from adjective: ↑essential (for: ↑essentially), ↑fundamental (for: ↑fundamentally)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.