Full Idea
Ousia: substance, (primary) being [see 'Prote ousia']
Gist of Idea
Ousia: substance, (primary) being, [see 'Prote ousia']
Source
PG (Db (lexicon) [c.1001 BCE], 64)
A Reaction
It is based on the verb 'to be'. Latin therefore translated it as 'essentia' (esse: to be), and we have ended up translating it as 'essence', but this is wrong! 'Being' is the best translation, and 'substance' is OK. It is the problem, not the answer.