wesentlich

essential

adjective VAY-zent-likh Common

Also means

considerably

Usage Note

wesentlich means 'essential, fundamental' as an adjective, but as an adverb before a comparative it means 'considerably, much' (wesentlich besser = 'much better'). It stems from Wesen ('essence, being').

Examples

"Das ist ein wesentlicher Unterschied."

Natural Translation

That is an essential difference.

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