PITH, noun 1. The soft spungy substance in the center of plants and trees. 2. In animals, the spinal marrow. 3. Strength or force. 4. Energy; cogency; concentrated force; closeness and vigor of thought and style. 5. Condensed substance or matter; quintessence. The summary contains the pith of the original. 6. Weight; moment; importance. Enterprises of great pith and moment.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI