In ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.

• 第五种要素在古代和中世纪的哲学中，除了土、空气、火和水四大基本元素以外的第五种也是最高的精髓，被认为是天体的组成物质并潜伏在于所有事物之中