Quartan
Quartan, kwor′tan, adj. occurring every fourth day, as a fever or ague.—n. an ague of this character. [Fr. quartaine—L. quartanus, of the fourth.]
English · e-38699-4810Historical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Quartan, kwor′tan, adj. occurring every fourth day, as a fever or ague.—n. an ague of this character. [Fr. quartaine—L. quartanus, of the fourth.]
English · e-38699-4810Quarter, kwor′tėr, n. a fourth part: the fourth part of a cwt.=28 lb. avoirdupois (abbrev. qr.): 8 bushels, as a measure of capacity, for grain, &c.: the fourth part of an hour—of the year—of the moon's period—of a carca
English · e-38699-4811Quartodeciman, kwor-tō-des′i-man, n. one of those who celebrated the Paschal festival on the 14th day of Nisan without regard to the day of the week. The western churches kept it on the Sunday after the 14th day—the usag
English · e-38699-4812Quartz, kworts, n. the common form of native silica, or the oxide of silicon, occurring both in crystals and massive, scratching glass easily, and becoming positively electrical by friction, colourless when pure—Rock-cry
English · e-38699-4813Quash, kwosh, v.t. to crush: to subdue or extinguish suddenly and completely: to annul. [O. Fr. quasser (Fr. casser)—L. quassāre, inten. of quatĕre, to shake.]
English · e-38699-4814Quashee, kwosh′e, n. a negro, esp. in West Indies.
English · e-38699-4815 · brief source recordQuashey, kwosh′i, n. a pumpkin.
English · e-38699-4816 · brief source recordQuasi, kwā′sī, conj. and adv. as if: in a certain manner, sense, or degree—in appearance only, as 'quasi-historical,' &c. [L.]
English · e-38699-4817Quasimodo, kwas-i-mō′do, n. the first Sunday after Easter, Low Sunday. [From the first words of the introit for the day, 1 Peter, ii. 2; L. Quasi modo geniti infantes, as new-born babes, &c.]
English · e-38699-4818Quass, kwas, n. See Kvass.
English · e-38699-4819 · brief source recordQuassation, kwas-sā′shun, n. the act of shaking: the state of being shaken: concussion.—adj. Quas′sative. [L. quassatio—quassāre, to shake.]
English · e-38699-4820Quassia, kwash′i-a, n. a South American tree, the bitter wood and bark of which are used as a tonic.—ns. Quass′ine, Quass′ite, the bitter principle of quassia-wood, the Bitter-wood of the West Indies. [So called by Linnæ
English · e-38699-4821Quat, kwot, n. (Shak.) a pimple: an insignificant person.
English · e-38699-4822 · brief source recordQuatch, kwoch, adj. (Shak.) squat, flat.
English · e-38699-4823 · brief source recordQuatercentenary, qua-ter-sen′te-nā-ri, n. a 400th anniversary.
English · e-38699-4824 · brief source recordQuaterfoil, kat′ėr-foil, n. See Quarterfoil.
English · e-38699-4825 · brief source recordQuaternary, kwa-tėr′nar-i, adj. consisting of four: by fours: pertaining to strata more recent than the Upper Tertiary: (math.) containing four variables.—n. a group of four things.—adjs. Quāt′ern, Quāter′nāte, composed
English · e-38699-4826Quatorze, ka-torz′, n. the four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens in the game of piquet.—n. Quator′zain, a stanza or poem of fourteen lines. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4827Quatrain, kwot′rān, n. a stanza of four lines rhyming alternately. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4828 · brief source recordQuatre-foil, Fr. Quatre-feuille=Quarterfoil.
English · e-38699-4829 · brief source recordQuattrocento, kwot-rō-chen′to, n. in Italian, a term for the 15th century, its literature and art: the early Renaissance.—n. Quattrocen′tist. Outstanding quattrocentisti in art are Donatello, Masaccio, Lippo Lippi, and M
English · e-38699-4830Quaver, kwā′vėr, v.i. to shake: to sing or play with tremulous modulations.—n. a trembling: a vibration of the voice: a note in music=half a crotchet or one-eighth of a semibreve.—n. Quā′verer.—adv. Quā′veringly. [Imit.;
English · e-38699-4831Quay, kē, n. a landing-place: a wharf for the loading or unloading of vessels.—n. Quay′age, payment for use of a quay. [O. Fr. quay—Celt., as in Bret. kaé, and W. cae, an enclosure.]
English · e-38699-4832Quayd, kwād, adj. (Spens.). Same as Quelled.
English · e-38699-4833 · brief source recordQueachy, kwē′chi, adj. shaking: unsteady. [From queach, a variant of quitch.]
English · e-38699-4834 · brief source recordQuean, kwēn, n. a saucy girl or young woman: a woman of worthless character. [Queen.]
English · e-38699-4835 · brief source recordQueasy, kwē′zi, adj. sick, squeamish: inclined to vomit: causing nausea: fastidious: ticklish, nice.—adv. Quea′sily.—n. Quea′siness. [Scand.; Norw. kveis, sickness after a debauch, Ice. -kveisa, pains, as in idhra-kveisa
English · e-38699-4836Quebracho, ke-brä′chō, n. the bark of several hard-wooded South American trees—good in fever. [Port.,—quebrahacho, axe-breaker—quebrar, to break, hacha, facha, axe.]
English · e-38699-4837Quebrada, ke-brä′da, n. a ravine. [Sp. Amer.]
English · e-38699-4838 · brief source recordQueen, kwēn, n. the wife of a king: a female sovereign: the best or chief of her kind: a queen-bee or queen-ant: of playing-cards, one with the queen painted on it: the piece in chess which is the most deadly in attack.—
English · e-38699-4839Queer, kwēr, adj. odd, singular, quaint: open to suspicion, dubious: counterfeit: having a sensation of coming sickness.—v.t. (slang) to banter, ridicule.—adj. Queer′ish, somewhat singular.—n. Queer′ity (rare).—adv. Quee
English · e-38699-4840Queet, kwēt, n. (Scot.) an ankle. [Coot (2).]
English · e-38699-4841 · brief source recordQueez-madam, kwēz′-mad′am, n. (Scot.) the cuisse-madam, a French jargonelle pear.
English · e-38699-4842 · brief source recordQueint, kwānt, adj. (Spens.). Same as Quaint.
English · e-38699-4843 · brief source recordQueint, kwent (Spens.), pa.t. and pa.p. of quench.
English · e-38699-4844 · brief source recordQuelch, kwelch, v.i. (prov.) to make a sucking sound like that of water in one's boots.
English · e-38699-4845 · brief source recordQuelea, kwē′le-a, n. the weaver-bird of Africa.
English · e-38699-4846 · brief source recordQuell, kwel, v.t. to crush: subdue: to allay.—v.i. to die, perish, (Shak.) abate.—ns. Quell (Shak.), murder: (Keats) power of quelling; Quell′er, one who quells or crushes: a slayer. [A.S. cwellan, to kill, causal of cwe
English · e-38699-4847Queme, kwēm, v.t. (Spens.) to please, suit, fit. [A.S. cwéman; cf. Ger. bequem, fit.]
English · e-38699-4848 · brief source recordQuench, kwensh, v.t. to put out: to destroy: to check: to allay: to place in water.—v.i. to lose zeal, grow cold.—adj. Quench′able, that may be extinguished.—ns. Quench′er, one who, or that which, quenches: a draught or
English · e-38699-4849Quenelle, ke-nel′, n. a forcemeat ball of chicken, veal, or the like. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4850 · brief source recordQuenouille-training, ke-nōō′lye-trā′ning, n. the training of trees in a conical shape with the branches bent downwards. [Fr. quenouille, a distaff—Low L. colucula—L. colus, a distaff.]
English · e-38699-4851Quercetum, kwer-sē′tum, n. a collection of living oaks. [L.,—quercus, an oak.]
English · e-38699-4852 · brief source recordQuercitron, kwer′si-tron, n. the name both of a dye-stuff and of the species of oak of which it is the bark—the Quercus coccinea of North America, also called Dyer's oak and Yellow-barked oak.—ns. Quer′cite, a sweet crys
English · e-38699-4853Querela, kwe-rē′la, n. a complaint preferred in a court.—n. Quē′rent, a plaintiff. [L.]
English · e-38699-4854 · brief source recordQuerimonious, kwer-i-mō′ni-us, adj. complaining: discontented.—adv. Querimō′niously.—n. Querimō′niousness. [L. querimonia, a complaining—queri, to complain.]
English · e-38699-4855Querist, kwē′rist, n. one who inquires or asks questions. [Query.]
English · e-38699-4856 · brief source recordQuerk, kwėrk, v.t. (prov.) to throttle.—v.i. to grunt.
English · e-38699-4857 · brief source recordQuerl, kwėrl, v.t. (U.S.) to twirl.—n. a coil.
English · e-38699-4858 · brief source recordQuern, kwėrn, n. a stone handmill for grinding grain. [A.S. cwyrn, cweorn; Ice. kvern, Goth, kwairnus.]
English · e-38699-4859 · brief source recordQuerquedula, kwer-kwed′ū-la, n. the teal. [L.]
English · e-38699-4860 · brief source recordQuerulous, kwer′ū-lus, adj. complaining: discontented: quarrelsome.—adv. Quer′ulously.—n. Quer′ulousness. [L.,—queri, to complain.]
English · e-38699-4861Query, kwē′ri, n. an inquiry: the mark of interrogation.—v.t. to inquire into: to question: to doubt of: to mark with a query.—v.i. to question:—pa.t. and pa.p. quē′ried.—adj. Ques′itive, interrogatory. [L. quære, imper.
English · e-38699-4862Quest, kwest, n. the act of seeking: search: pursuit: a searching party: a jury of inquest: inquiry, investigation: request or desire.—v.i. to go in search of, to go begging: to give tongue, as a dog after game.—ns. Ques
English · e-38699-4863Question, kwest′yun, n. a seeking: an inquiry: an examination, esp. by torture: an investigation: dispute: doubt: a subject of discussion, esp. the particular point actually before the house, the measure to be voted upon
English · e-38699-4864Questor, Questorship. See Quæstor.
English · e-38699-4865 · brief source recordQuetzal, kwet′sal, n. the resplendent trogon, a native of Central America, the plumage of the male a magnificent golden green.—Also Ques′al, Quij′al.
English · e-38699-4866Queue, kū, n. a pendent braid of hair at the back of the head, a pigtail: a file of persons waiting in the order of arrival: a tailpiece, as of a violin: (her.) the tail of a beast.—v.t. to tie or fasten in a queue or pi
English · e-38699-4867Quey, kwā, n. (Scot.) a young cow or heifer, a cow that has not yet had a calf. [Ice. kvíga; Dan. kvie.]
English · e-38699-4868 · brief source recordQuhilk, hwilk, pron. an obsolete Scotch form of which.
English · e-38699-4869 · brief source recordQui tam, kwī tam, an action on a penal statute, brought partly at the suit of the state and partly at that of an informer—from the first words. [L. qui, who, tam, as well.]
English · e-38699-4944Qui vive, kē vēv, Who goes there?—the challenge of French sentries to those who approach their posts.—Be on the qui vive, to be on the alert. [Fr.,—qui, who, vive, 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of vivre, to live—L. vivĕre.]
English · e-38699-4953Qui-hi, -hye, kwī′hī′, n. in Bengal, the Anglo-Indian call for a servant: (coll.) an Anglo-Indian in Bengal. [Hind. koī hai, 'who is there?']
English · e-38699-4889Quib, kwib. Same as Quip.
English · e-38699-4870 · brief source recordQuibble, kwib′l, n. a turning away from the point in question into matters irrelevant or insignificant: an evasion, a pun: a petty conceit.—v.i. to evade a question by a play upon words: to cavil: to trifle in argument:
English · e-38699-4871Quich, kwich, v.i. (Spens.) to stir, to move.—Also Quinch, Quitch. [A.S. cweccan, causal of cwacian, to quake.]
English · e-38699-4872 · brief source recordQuick, kwik, adj. living: lively: speedy: nimble: ready: sensitive: hasty: pregnant: active, piercing.—adv. without delay: rapidly: soon.—n. a living animal or plant: the living: the living flesh: the sensitive parts: a
English · e-38699-4873Quicunque, kwī-kung′kwe, n. the so-called Athanasian Creed, from its first words, Quicunque vult='whosoever will.'
English · e-38699-4874 · brief source recordQuid, kwid, n. what, substance: something.—Tertium quid, something distinct from both mind and matter, itself immediately known, mediating between the mind and the reality. [L., what.]
English · e-38699-4875Quid, kwid, n. something chewed or kept in the mouth, esp. a piece of tobacco. [A corr. of cud.]
English · e-38699-4876 · brief source recordQuid, kwid, n. (slang) a sovereign.
English · e-38699-4877 · brief source recordQuid pro quo, kwid prō kwō, n. something given or taken as equivalent to something else. [L., 'something for something.']
English · e-38699-4884Quidam, kwī′dam, n. somebody, one unknown. [L.]
English · e-38699-4878 · brief source recordQuiddany, kwid′a-ni, n. a confection of quince-juice and sugar. [L. cydonium. Cf. Quince.]
English · e-38699-4879 · brief source recordQuiddit, kwid′it, n. an equivocation: a subtilty or quibble. [A contr. of quiddity.]
English · e-38699-4880 · brief source recordQuiddity, kwid′i-ti, n. the essence of anything: any trifling nicety: a cavil: a captious question.—adjs. Quidd′ative, Quidd′itātive. [Low L. quidditas—L. quid, what.]
English · e-38699-4881Quiddle, kwid′l, v.i. to spend time in trifling.—n. one who does so.—n. Quidd′ler, a trifler.—adj. Quidd′ling. [L. quid.]
English · e-38699-4882Quidnunc, kwid′nungk, n. one always on the lookout for news: one who pretends to know all occurrences. [L., 'what now?']
English · e-38699-4883Quien sabe, kien sä′be, who knows? a common reply to a question in the south-western United States, meaning 'I do not know.' [Sp. quien, who—L. quis, who; sabe, 3d pers. sing. pres. indic. of saber, to know—L. sapĕre, to
English · e-38699-4885Quiescent, kwī-es′ent, adj. being quiet, resting: not sounded, as a quiescent letter: still: unagitated: silent.—v.i. Quiesce′, to become quiet: to become silent in pronunciation, as a letter.—ns. Quies′cence, Quies′cenc
English · e-38699-4886Quiet, kwī′et, adj. at rest: calm: smooth: peaceable: gentle, inoffensive: silent, still: free from gaudiness, in good taste: free from bustle or formality.—n. the state of being at rest: repose: calm: stillness: peace.—
English · e-38699-4887Quight, kwīt, adv. a misspelt form of quite.
English · e-38699-4888 · brief source recordQuill, kwil, n. a fold of a plaited or fluted ruff.—v.t. to flute: form with rounded ridges.—adj. Quilled, crimped, fluted.—n. Quill′ing, a narrow bordering of plaited lace or ribbon. [Fr. quille, a keel.]
English · e-38699-4890Quill, kwil, n. a reed-pen: the feather of a goose or other bird used as a pen, hence a pen generally: the profession of letters: anything like a quill: the hollow basal stem of a feather: one of the large hollow sharp s
English · e-38699-4891Quillet, kwil′et, n. a trick in argument: a petty quibble. [L. quidlibet, 'what you will.']
English · e-38699-4892 · brief source recordQuillet, kwil′et, n. (prov.) a furrow: a small croft.
English · e-38699-4893 · brief source recordQuillon, kē-lyong′, n. one of the branches of the cross-guard of a sword.
English · e-38699-4894 · brief source recordQuilt, kwilt, n. a bed-cover of two cloths sewed together with something soft between them: a thick coverlet.—v.t. to make into a quilt: to stitch together with something soft between, to stitch in: to sew like a quilt.—
English · e-38699-4895Quin, kwin, n. (prov.) a kind of scallop.
English · e-38699-4896 · brief source recordQuinarian, kwī-nā′ri-an, adj. classified in sets of five: (zool.) relating to the circular or so-called natural system of classification, propounded in 1819 and much elaborated by Swainson in 1835—also Quī′nary.—n. one w
English · e-38699-4897Quinate, kwī′nāt, adj. (bot.) having five leaflets on a petiole. [L. quini, five each.]
English · e-38699-4898 · brief source recordQuince, kwins, n. the golden, globose or pear-shaped, fragrant fruit of a large shrub or small tree (Pyrus Cydonia) of the rose family, too austere to be eaten raw, but excellent for jellies, marmalade, and flavouring ot
English · e-38699-4899Quincentenary, kwin-sen′te-nā-ri, adj. relating to five hundred, especially five hundred years.—n. a five hundredth anniversary.
English · e-38699-4900Quinch, kwinsh, v.t. (Spens.). Same as Quitch, v.t.
English · e-38699-4901 · brief source recordQuincunx, kwin′kungks, n. an arrangement of five things, so as to occupy each corner and the centre of a square, esp. of trees or plants.—adj. Quincun′cial.—adv. Quincun′cially. [L. quinque, five, uncia, a twelfth part,
English · e-38699-4902Quindecemvir, kwin-dē-sem′vir, n. one of a college of fifteen men in ancient Rome who had the charge of the Sibylline books:—pl. Quindecem′viri.—ns. Quindec′agon, a plane figure with fifteen sides and angles; Quindecem′v
English · e-38699-4903Quinible, kwin′i-bl, n. (mus.) an interval of a fifth: a descant sung at the fifth. [L. quinque, five.]
English · e-38699-4904 · brief source recordQuinine, kwin′ēn, ki-nēn′, or kwī′nīn, n. a colourless, inodorous, and very bitter alkaloid, obtained from the bark of the Cinchona tree, its salts used for agues and fevers.—ns. Quī′na, the bark of various species of Ci
English · e-38699-4905Quinisext, kwin′i-sekst, adj. pertaining to five and six, or to the fifth and sixth.
English · e-38699-4906 · brief source recordQuinnat, kwin′at, n. the king-salmon.
English · e-38699-4907 · brief source recordQuinoa, kē′no-a, n. a Chilian and Mexican food-plant, resembling some British species of chenopodium, cultivated for its farinaceous seeds. [Peruv.]
English · e-38699-4908Quinoline, kwin′ō-lin, n. a pungent, colourless liquid obtained by the distillation of bones, coal-tar, and various alkaloids—the base of many organic bodies, isomeric with Leucol.—Also Chin′oline. [Peruv. quina, kina, b
English · e-38699-4909Quinone, kwin′ōn, n. or Benzoquinone, a golden-yellow crystalline compound usually prepared by oxidising aniline with potassium bichromate and sulphuric acid: a general name applied to all benzene derivatives in which tw
English · e-38699-4910Quinquagesima, kwin-kwa-jes′i-ma, n. a period of fifty days.—n. Quinquagenā′rian, one who is between fifty and sixty years old.—Quinquagesima Sunday, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, being the fiftieth day before Easter.
English · e-38699-4911Quinquangular, kwin-kwang′gū-lar, adj. having five angles.—adjs. Quinquartic′ular, of five articles; Quinquecap′sular, having five capsules; Quinquecos′tāte, -d having five ribs; Quinqueden′tate, -d (bot.), five-toothed;
English · e-38699-4912Quinquenniad, kwin-kwen′i-ad, n. a period of five years—also Quinquenn′ium.—adj. Quinquenn′ial, occurring once in five years: lasting five years.—n. a fifth anniversary or its celebration.
English · e-38699-4913Quinquereme, kwin′kwe-rēm, n. an ancient galley having five banks of oars. [L.,—quinque, five, remus, an oar.]
English · e-38699-4914 · brief source recordQuinquina, kin-kī′nä, n. quinaquina. [Quinine.]
English · e-38699-4915 · brief source recordQuinquino, kin′ki-nō, n. the tree (Myroxylon Pereiræ) which yields the balsam of Peru.
English · e-38699-4916 · brief source recordQuinsy, kwin′zi, n. an inflammatory affection of the substance of the tonsils, attended when fully developed by suppuration.—ns. Quin′sy-berr′y, the common black-currant; Quin′sy-wort, a small trailing British herb of th
English · e-38699-4917Quint, kwint, n. a set or a sequence of five: (mus.) a fifth: the E string of a violin.—adj. Quint′an, recurring on every fifth day.—n. a malarial fever whose paroxysms recur on every fifth day. [Fr.,—L. quintus, fifth—q
English · e-38699-4918Quinta, kwin′tä, n. a country house in Madeira. [Sp.]
English · e-38699-4919 · brief source recordQuintad, kwin′tad, n. the same as Pentad.
English · e-38699-4920 · brief source recordQuintadena, kwin-ta-dē′na, n. in organ-building, a mutation stop yielding a tone one-twelfth above the digital struck.
English · e-38699-4921 · brief source recordQuintain, kwin′tān, n. a post with a turning and loaded top or cross-piece, to be tilted at.—Also Quin′tin. [Fr.,—L. quintana, quintus, fifth, the place of recreation in the Roman camp being between the fifth and sixth m
English · e-38699-4922Quintal, kwin′tal, n. a hundredweight, either 112 or 100 pounds according to the scale.—The Quintal métrique, the modern French quintal, is 100 kilograms=220 lb. avoirdupois. [Fr. and Sp. quintal—Ar. qintăr—L. centum, a
English · e-38699-4923Quintessence, kwin-tes′ens, n. the pure concentrated essence of anything, the most essential part of anything: the fifth essence, according to the Pythagoreans, beyond earth, water, fire, air.—adj. Quintessen′tial.—v.t.
English · e-38699-4924Quintet, Quintette, kwin-tet′, n. a musical composition for five voices or instruments: a company of five singers or players. [It. quintetto, dim. of quinto, a fifth part—L. quintus, fifth—quinque, five.]
English · e-38699-4925Quintic, kwin′tik, adj. of the fifth degree.
English · e-38699-4926 · brief source recordQuintile, kwin′til, n. the aspect of planets distant from each other the fifth part of the zodiac, or 72°.
English · e-38699-4927 · brief source recordQuintillion, kwin-til′yun, n. the fifth power of a million, or a unit followed by thirty ciphers: generally, in U.S., the sixth power of one thousand, or a unit followed by eighteen ciphers.
English · e-38699-4928Quintole, kwin′tōl, n. a five-stringed viol common in France in the 18th century: a group of five notes to be played in the time of three, four, or six. [It. quinto—L. quintus, fifth.]
English · e-38699-4929Quintroon, kwin-trōōn′, n. the offspring of a white by one who has one-sixteenth part of negro blood. [Sp. quinteron—L. quintus, fifth—quinque, five.]
English · e-38699-4930Quintuple, kwin′tū-pl, adj. fivefold: (mus.) having five crotchets in a bar.—v.t. to make or to increase fivefold.—ns. Quin′tūplet, a set of five things: (pl.) five young at a birth: (mus.) same as Quintole; Quintū′plicā
English · e-38699-4931Quinzaine, kwin′zān, n. the fifteenth day onward from a feast day, counting itself: a stanza of fifteen lines. [Fr. quinze, fifteen—L. quindecim—quinque, five, decem, ten.]
English · e-38699-4932Quinze, kwinz, n. a card-game, like vingt-et-un, the object being to count as nearly to fifteen as possible without going above it.
English · e-38699-4933Quip, kwip, n. a sharp, sarcastic turn, a gibe: a quick retort.—v.i. to use sarcasms.—v.t. to sneer at.—adj. Quip′pish. [W. chwip, a quick turn, chwipio, to move briskly.]
English · e-38699-4934Quipu, kē′pōō, or kwip′ōō, n. the mnemonic language of coloured and knotted cords used by the Incas of ancient Peru—depending on order, colour, and kind.—Also Quip′o. [Peruv., 'a knot.']
English · e-38699-4935Quire, kwīr, n. a collection of paper consisting of twenty-four sheets, the twentieth part of a ream, each having a single fold.—v.t. to fold in quires. [O. Fr. quaier (Fr. cahier), prob. from Low L. quaternum, a set of
English · e-38699-4936Quire, kwīr, n. old form of choir.—n. Quī′rister, a chorister.
English · e-38699-4937 · brief source recordQuirinus, kwi-rī′nus, n. an Italic divinity identified with the deified Romulus.—n. Quirinā′lia, a festival in ancient Rome in honour of Quirinus, on Feb. 17.
English · e-38699-4938Quirites, kwi-rī′tez, n.pl. the citizens of ancient Rome in their civil capacity.
English · e-38699-4939 · brief source recordQuirk, kwėrk, n. a quick turn: an artful evasion: a quibble: a taunt or retort: a slight conceit: inclination, turn: fantastic phrase: (archit.) an acute angle or recess.—v.i. to turn sharply.—v.t. to twist or turn: to f
English · e-38699-4940Quirt, kwėrt, n. a riding-whip much used in the western states of North America.—v.t. to flog with a quirt. [Perh. Sp. cuerda, a rope.]
English · e-38699-4941Quiscalus, kwis′ka-lus, n. a genus of birds, the American grackles or crow-blackbirds.
English · e-38699-4942 · brief source recordQuit, kwit, v.t. to pay, requite: to release from obligation, accusation, &c.: to acquit: to depart from: to give up: to clear by full performance: (Spens.) to remove by force: (coll.) to give over, cease:—pr.p. quit′tin
English · e-38699-4943Quitch, kwich, n. couch-grass.—Also Quitch′-grass, Quick′ens. [Assibilated form of quick.]
English · e-38699-4945 · brief source recordQuitch, kwich, v.i. (Spens.) to move. [A.S. cweccan, causative of cwacian, to quake.]
English · e-38699-4946 · brief source recordQuite, kwīt (Spens.). Same as Quit.
English · e-38699-4947 · brief source recordQuite, kwīt, adv. completely: wholly: entirely.—Quite a little, a good few: considerable; Quite so, a phrase denoting assent in conversation. [Merely an adv. use of the adj. quit.]
English · e-38699-4948Quitter, kwit′ėr, n. a fistulous sore on the quarters or the heel of the coronet of a horse's hoof.—v.i. to suppurate.
English · e-38699-4949 · brief source recordQuiver, kwiv′ėr, adj. (Shak.) nimble, active.
English · e-38699-4950 · brief source recordQuiver, kwiv′ėr, n. a case for arrows.—adj. Quiv′ered, furnished with a quiver: sheathed, as in a quiver. [O. Fr. cuivre; from Old High Ger. kohhar (Ger. köcher); cog. with A.S. cocer.]
English · e-38699-4951Quiver, kwiv′ėr, v.i. to shake with slight and tremulous motion: to tremble: to shiver.—ns. Quiv′er, Quiv′ering, a tremulous motion, shiver.—adv. Quiv′eringly, with quivering.—adj. Quiv′erish, tremulous. [A.S. cwifer, se
English · e-38699-4952Quixotic, kwiks-ot′ik, adj. like Don Quixote, the knight-errant in the great romance of Cervantes (1547-1616), extravagantly romantic, aiming at an impossible ideal.—adv. Quixot′ically.—ns. Quix′otism, Quix′otry, absurdl
English · e-38699-4954Quiz, kwiz, n. a riddle or enigma: one who quizzes another: an odd fellow: a monocular eye-glass, often with a handle: (coll.) an oral examination of a pupil or class by a teacher.—v.t. to puzzle: to banter or make sport
English · e-38699-4955Quo warranto, kwō wo-ran′to, n. (law) the title of a writ by which a person or corporate body is summoned to show by what warrant a particular franchise or office is claimed. [So called from these words in the writ. L. q
English · e-38699-4974Quoad, kwō′ad, prep. as far as, to this extent.—Quoad hoc, as far as this; Quoad omnia, in respect of all things; Quoad sacra, as far as concerns sacred matters, as a parish disjoined for ecclesiastical purposes only. [L
English · e-38699-4956Quod, kwod, n. (slang) prison.
English · e-38699-4957 · brief source recordQuodlibet, kwod′li-bet, n. a scholastic argument upon a subject chosen at will, almost invariably theological: a humorous fanciful combination of two or more familiar melodies.—n. Quodlibetā′rian, one given to quodlibets
English · e-38699-4958Quodlin, kwod′lin, n. (Bacon). Same as Codlin.
English · e-38699-4959 · brief source recordQuoif, koif, n. a cap or hood.—v.t. to cover or dress with a coif.
English · e-38699-4960 · brief source recordQuoin, koin, n. (archit.) a wedge used to support and steady a stone: an external angle, esp. of a building: (gun.) a wedge of wood or iron put under the breech of heavy guns or the muzzle of siege-mortars to raise them
English · e-38699-4961Quoit, koit, n. a heavy flat ring of iron for throwing as near as possible to one hob or pin from the other—18 to 21 yards apart—the points in the game counted as in bowls or curling: (pl.) the game played with such ring
English · e-38699-4962Quondam, kwon′dam, adj. that was formerly: former. [L., formerly.]
English · e-38699-4963 · brief source recordQuoniam, kwō′ni-am, n. the part of the 'Gloria in Excelsis' beginning 'For Thou only art holy:' the musical setting thereof: (obs.) a kind of drinking-cup. [L., 'since now.']
English · e-38699-4964Quook, kwook (Spens.), pa.t. of quake.
English · e-38699-4965 · brief source recordQuop, kwop, v.i. to move: to throb, as the heart.—Also Quab, Quap.
English · e-38699-4966 · brief source recordQuorum, kwō′rum, n. a number of the members of any body sufficient to transact business. [The first word of a commission formerly issued to certain justices, of whom (L. quorum) a certain number had always to be present
English · e-38699-4967Quota, kwō′ta, n. the part or share assigned to each.—n. Quot′ity (Carlyle), the number of individuals in a collection. [It.,—L. quotus, of what number?—quot, how many?]
English · e-38699-4968Quote, kwōt, v.t. to repeat the words of any one: to adduce for authority or illustration: to give the current price of: to enclose within quotation marks: (Shak.) to set down in writing.—v.i. to make a quotation.—adj. Q
English · e-38699-4969Quoth, kwōth, v.t. say, says, or said—used only in the 1st and 3d persons present and past, and always followed by its subject.—interj. Quō′thä, forsooth, indeed. [A.S. cwethan, pa.t. cwæth, to say. For quoth'a, said he—
English · e-38699-4970Quotidian, kwō-tid′i-an, adj. every day: occurring daily.—n. anything returning daily: (med.) a kind of ague that returns daily. [Fr.,—L. quotidianus—quot, as many as, dies, a day.]
English · e-38699-4971Quotient, kwō′shent, n. (math.) the number which shows how often one number is contained in another.—n. Quōtī′ety, the proportionate frequency of an event. [Fr.,—L. quotiens, quoties, how often?—quot, how many?]
English · e-38699-4972Quotum, kwō′tum, n. quota: share: part or proportion. [L., neut. of quotus; cf. Quota.]
English · e-38699-4973 · brief source recordR, the eighteenth letter in our alphabet, belonging to the class of liquids—the 'dog's letter' (littera canina), from the trilling or vibration of the tip of the tongue: as a medieval numeral=80; [overline: R]=80,000.—Th
English · e-38699-4975Ra, rä, n. the supreme sun-god of the Memphite system of ancient Egyptian mythology.
English · e-38699-4976 · brief source recordRabanna, ra-ban′a, n. matting made from the fibre of the raffia, in Madagascar. [Malagasy.]
English · e-38699-4977 · brief source recordRabat, ra-bä′, n. a neck-band with flaps worn by French ecclesiastics: a turned-down collar or ruff—(obs.) Rab′atine, Rabā′to. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4978Rabate, ra-bāt′, v.t. to beat down.—n. abatement. [Fr. rabattre, to beat down—re-, again, abattre—L. ad, to, batuĕre, to beat.]
English · e-38699-4979Rabbet, rab′et, n. a groove cut in the edge of a plank so that another may fit into it.—v.t. to groove a plank thus.—ns. Rabb′eting-machine′, -plane, -saw, for ploughing and cutting grooves; Rabb′et-joint, a joint formed
English · e-38699-4980Rabbi, rab′i, or rab′ī, Rabbin, rab′in, n. Jewish title of a doctor or expounder of the law:—pl. Rabbis (rab′īz), Rabb′ins.—ns. Rabb′an ('our master'), a title of greater honour than rabbi; Rabb′inate, the dignity of a r
English · e-38699-4981Rabbit, rab′it, n. a small rodent burrowing animal of the hare family: a cony: any member of the hare family.—v.i. to hunt rabbits.—ns. Rabb′it-brush, a North American composite plant; Rabb′it-ear, a long slender oyster;
English · e-38699-4982Rabbit, rab′it, v.t. an interjectional expression, like confound. [Perh. a corr. of rabate.]
English · e-38699-4983 · brief source recordRabble, rab′l, n. a disorderly, noisy crowd: a mob: the lowest class of people.—adj. disorderly.—v.i. to utter nonsense.—v.t. (Scot.) to mob.—ns. Rabb′lement, a tumultuous crowd of low people; Rabb′ling (Scot.), the act
English · e-38699-4984Rabble, rab′l, n. an iron bar used in puddling.—v.t. to stir with a rabble.—n. Rabb′ler. [O. Fr. roable (Fr. râble)—L. rutabulum, a poker.]
English · e-38699-4985Rabdomancy. Same as Rhabdomancy.
English · e-38699-4986 · brief source recordRabelaisian, rab-e-lā′zi-an, n. characteristic of Rabelais (1490-1553), broadly humorous, coarse.
English · e-38699-4987 · brief source recordRabi, rab′i, n. the great grain crop of Hindustan.
English · e-38699-4988 · brief source recordRabid, rab′id, adj. furious: mad: affected with rabies, as a dog: foolishly intense.—adj. Rab′ic, pertaining to rabies.—adv. Rab′idly.—ns. Rab′idness; Rā′bies, the disease (esp. of dogs) from which hydrophobia is communi
English · e-38699-4989Rabot, rab′ot, n. a rubber used in polishing marble.
English · e-38699-4990 · brief source recordRaca, rā′ka, adj. worthless—a term of contempt used by the Jews of Christ's day; cf. Matt. v. 22. [Chaldee rēkā, worthless; perh. conn. with raq, to spit (Ar. rīq), or with rīqā, empty.]
English · e-38699-4991Raccahout, rak′a-hōōt, n. an Eastern dish made from the edible acorns of the oak. [Fr.,—Ar. rāquat, rāqaout, a nourishing starch.]
English · e-38699-4992Raccoon, Racoon, ra-kōōn′, n. a genus of the bear family of North America, valuable for its fur.—ns. Raccoon′-berr′y, the May apple of the United States; Raccoon′-oys′ter, an oyster growing on the shores of the sea in Un
English · e-38699-4993Race, rās, n. the human family: the descendants of a common ancestor: a breed or variety: a tribal or national stock: a line of persons, as of statesmen, or of animals, as the feline race: a herd: peculiar flavour, as of
English · e-38699-4994Race, rās, n. rapid motion: trial of speed: progress: course of action: a strong and rapid current: a canal to a water-wheel: a competitive trial of speed in running, walking, &c.: a horse-race, as the Ascot races.—v.i.
English · e-38699-4995Race, rās, n. (Shak.) a root.—n. Race′-gin′ger, unpulverised ginger. [O. Fr. rais—L. radix, a root.]
English · e-38699-4996 · brief source recordRace, rās, v.t. (obs.)=Raze.—adj. Raced.
English · e-38699-4997 · brief source recordRaceme, ra-sēm′, n. a cluster: a flower-cluster, as in the currant.—adjs. Racemed′, having racemes; Racem′ic, pertaining to, or obtained from, grapes: an acid obtained from a certain kind of grape; Racemif′erous, bearing
English · e-38699-4998Rach, Ratch, rach, n. a dog that hunts by scent. [A.S. ræcc, a dog; Ice. rakki.]
English · e-38699-4999 · brief source recordRachianectes, ra-ki-an-ek′tez, n. the gray whale of the North Pacific. [Gr. rhachia, a rocky shore, nēktēs, a swimmer.]
English · e-38699-5000 · brief source recordRachis, rā′kis, n. the spine: (bot.) a branch or axis of inflorescence which proceeds in nearly a straight line from the base to the apex:—pl. Rā′chidēs.—n. Rāchial′gia, pain in the spine.—adjs. Rāchial′gic; Rāchid′ial,
English · e-38699-5001Racial, rā′si-al, adj. relating to lineage, peculiar to a race.—adv. Rā′cially.
English · e-38699-5002 · brief source recordRack, rak, n. an instrument for racking or extending: an engine for stretching the body in order to extort a confession, hence (fig.) extreme pain, anxiety, or doubt: a framework on which articles are arranged, as hat-ra
English · e-38699-5003Rack, rak, n. same as Wrack=Wreck—now used only in the phrases Go to rack, Go to rack and ruin. [Cf. the next word.]
English · e-38699-5004 · brief source recordRack, rak, n. thin or broken clouds drifting across the sky.—v.i. to drift, to drive. [Wrack; cf. Ice. rek.]
English · e-38699-5005 · brief source recordRack, rak, v.t. to strain or draw off from the lees, as wine.—ns. Rack′ing-can, a vessel from which wine can be drawn without disturbing the lees; Rack′ing-cock, -fau′cet, a cock used in drawing off liquour from a cask;
English · e-38699-5006Rack, rak, n. (prov.) the neck and spine of a fore-quarter of veal or mutton: the neck of mutton or pork.
English · e-38699-5007 · brief source recordRack, rak, n. the gait of a horse between a trot and a gallop.—n. Rack′er, a horse that moves in this gait. [Perh. rack, to drift, or rock.]
English · e-38699-5008Rack, rak, n. same as Arrack.—Rack punch, a punch made with arrack.
English · e-38699-5009 · brief source recordA historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
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