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center, substance, core, heart, essence, sum, centre, inwardness, marrow, kernel, gist, heart and soul, meat, nub, pith, nitty-gritty, soul, stuff, spirit, quintessence, general tenor, center/centre, pith substance | the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience | |
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effect, core, burden, essence, gist | the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work |