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Full Idea
I call by the name of Nominal Essence what is nothing but the abstract idea to which the name is annexed.
Gist of Idea
Nominal Essence is the abstract idea to which a name is attached
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 3.06.02)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.439
A Reaction
[compressed] Note that Locke is not saying that nominal essence is just words, the verbal definition of the name. Superfluous words in a definition would not be part of the nominal essence if they were not truly part of the idea.