Quiddity

n.; pl. Quiddities [ LL. quidditas, fr. L. quid what, neut. of quis who, akin to E. who: cf. F. quiddité. ] 1. The essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it? “ The degree of nullity and quiddity.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The quiddity or characteristic difference of poetry as distinguished from prose. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble. [ 1913 Webster ]

We laugh at the quiddities of those writers now. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]