1. A being or entity; something that exists or is thought to exist.
Usage: philosophy, formal; plural: entia or enses
2. In medieval and scholastic philosophy, a substance or essence.
Usage: archaic, philosophy

Examples

• In philosophy, an ens is any thing that has existence or being.
• The medieval philosophers debated whether an ens must have physical form.
• Descartes considered the mind and body as two distinct entia.
• The concept of ens is central to ontological discussions.
• Some logicians distinguish between a real ens and a conceptual one.