Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Quint'al, n. p. 1077A hundred weight, either 112 or 100 pounds, according to the scale used. [Sometimes written and pronounced kentle.]Quint'an, a. p. 1077Occurring as the fifth, after four others; also, occurring once in five days, or every fifth day; as, a quintan fever. Dunglison.Quint'an, n. p. 1077(Med.) A fever the paroxysms of which return every fifth day.Quint'el, n. p. 1077See QUINTAIN.Quin'ter-ōn, n. p. 1077See QUINTROON.Quin-tēs'sence, n. p. 1077(Alchemy.) The fifth or last and highest essence or power in a natural body. [Obs.] 2. Hence, an extract from any thing, containing its virtues or most essential part in a small quantity; pure or…Quin'tes-sen'tial, a. p. 1077Consisting of quintessence.Quin-tēt′ or Quin-tēt′te or Quin-tēt′to, n. p. 1077(Mus.) A composition for five voices or instruments.Quin'tic, n. p. 1077See QUANTIC.Quin'tile, n. p. 1077(Astron.) The aspect of planets when distant from each other the fifth part of the zodiac, or 72°. Hutton.Quin-til'ion, n. p. 1077According to the English notation, a number produced by involving a million to the fifth power, or a unit with thirty ciphers annexed; according to the French notation, a unit with eighteen ciphers…Quint'in, n. p. 1077See QUINTAIN.Quint'ine, n. p. 1077(Bot.) The fifth coat, reckoning from the outer, of the nucleus of a seed, when there are as many coats. Lindley.Quin-trōōn', n. p. 1077The child of a mustiphini, or woman having one sixteenth part of negro blood, and a white father, the child having thus one thirty-second part of negro blood. [West Indies.] [Written also quinteron.]Quin'tu-ple, a. p. 1077Multiplied by five; containing five times the amount; fivefold. 2. (Mus.) Having five crotchets or other notes in a bar; — said of a kind of music now seldom used. 3. (Bot.) Having the arrangement a…Quin'tu-ple, v. t. p. 1077To make fivefold; to multiply by five.Quin'tu-ple-nērvéd or Quin'tu-ple-ribbed, a. p. 1077(Bot.) Having two strong primary veins proceeding from the midrib on each side, at a point above the base of the leaf; — said of certain leaves.Quin'zāine, n. p. 1077(Chron.) The fourteenth day after a feast-day, or the fifteenth including the feast-day itself. Brande.Quip, n. p. 1077A smart, sarcastic turn; a taunt; a severe retort; a gibe; a jeer. Milton.Quip, v. t. p. 1077To taunt; to treat with a sarcastic retort. The more he laughs, and does her closely quip. Spencer.Quĭp, v. i. p. 1077To scoff. Sidney.Quï'po, n. p. 1077The same as QUIPU.Quï'pu, n. p. 1077A cord about two feet long, composed of different colored threads tightly twisted together, from which a quantity of smaller threads were suspended in the manner of a fringe;—used for recording…Quīre, n. p. 1077A body of singers; a chorus; a choir. “A quire of such enticing birds.” Shak. 2. The part of a church where the service is sung. 3. A company of persons. [Obs.] Spenser.Quīre, v. i. p. 1077To sing in concert. [Rare.] Shak.Quīre, n. p. 1077A collection of paper consisting of twenty-four sheets, each having a single fold.Quĭr'is-ter, n. p. 1077One who sings in concert with others; more generally, the leader of a quire, particularly in divine service; a chorister. [Obs. or rare.]Quir′i-tā′tion, n. p. 1077A crying for help. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Quir'ite, n. p. 1077One of the Quirites; a Roman citizen.Qui-rī'tēs, n. pl. p. 1077(Rom. Antiq.) Roman citizens. After the Sabines and Romans had united themselves into one community, under Romulus, the name of Quirites was taken in addition to that of Romani, the Romans calling…Quirk, n. p. 1077A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger. We ground the justification of our nonconformity on dark…Quirked, a. p. 1077Having a quirk.Quirk'ish, a. p. 1077Consisting of quirks, turns, quibbles, or artful evasions. Barrow. 2. Resembling a quirk.Quirp'ële, n. p. 1077(Zoöl.) The Indian ferret, an animal of the weasel kind.Quish, n. p. 1077Defensive armor for the thigh; cuish.Quit, v. t. p. 1077To set at rest; to free, as from any thing harmful or oppressive; to relieve; to clear; to liberate. [Rare.] To quit you of this fear, you have already looked Death in the face. Wake. 2. To release…Quit, a. p. 1077Released from obligation, charge, penalty, or the like; free; clear; absolved. The owner of the ox shall be quit. Ex. xxii. 28. ☞ This word is sometimes used in the form quits, colloquially; as, to…Qui tām, n. p. 1078(Law.) A popular action on a penal statute prosecuted partly at the suit of the government, and partly at that of an informer. Wharton.Quitch or Quitch'-grass, n. p. 1078(Bot.) Dog-grass or couch-grass; a species of grass which roots deeply and is not easily killed. Full seldom does a man repent, or use Both grace and will to pick the vicious quitch Of blood and…Quit’clām, v. t. p. 1078(Law.) To release or relinquish a claim to; to release a claim to by deed, without covenants of warranty against adverse and paramount titles.Quit'claim, n. p. 1078(Law.) A release or relinquishment of a claim; a deed of release; an instrument by which some right, title, interest, or claim, which one person has, or is supposed to have, in or to an estate held…Quite, adv. p. 1078Completely; wholly; entirely; totally; perfectly; as, the work is not quite done; the object is quite accomplished. Man shall not quite be lost. Milton. The same actions may be aimed at different…Quit'rĕnt, n. p. 1078(Law.) A rent reserved in grants of land, by the payment of which the tenant is quieted or quit from all other service. Blackstone. In some of the United States a fee-farm rent is so termed. Burrill.Quĭts p. 1078See QUIT, a.Quit'ta-ble, a. p. 1078Capable of being quitted or vacated. [Rare.] Markland.Quit'tal, n. p. 1078Return; repayment; requital. [Obs.]Quit'tance, n. p. 1078Discharge from a debt or obligation; acquittance. Omittance is no quittance. Shak. 2. Recompense; return; repayment. Shak.Quit'tance, v. t. p. 1078To repay; to requite. [Obs.] Shak.Quit'ter, n. p. 1078One who quits. 2. A deliverer. [Obs.] Ainsworth. 3. Scoria of tin. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Quit'tor, n. p. 1078(Far.) An ulcer formed between the hair and hoof, usually on the inside quarter of a horse’s foot. 2. Matter flowing from a sore or wound. [Obs.]Quittor-bone p. 1078a hard, round swelling upon the coronet, between the heel and the quarter.Quit'türe, n. p. 1078A discharge; an issue. [Obs.] “To cleanse the quitture from thy wound.” Chapman.Quīv'er, n. p. 1078A case or sheath for arrows. Beside him hung his bow And quiver, with three-bolted thunder stored.Quiv'er, a. p. 1078Nimble; active. [Obs.] Shak.Quiv'er, v. i. p. 1078To shake with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver. The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind. Shak. And left the limbs still quivering on the ground. Addison.Quiv'ered, a. p. 1078Furnished with a quiver. “Like a quivered nymph with arrows.” Milton. 2. Sheathed, as in a quiver. “Whose quills stand quivered at his ear.” Pope.Quiv'er-ing-ly, adv. p. 1078With quivering.Qui' vīve p. 1078The challenge of a French sentinel, To what party do you belong? i. e., for whom do you cry vive; corresponding to, Who goes there? Hence, to be on the qui vive, to be on the alert, like a sentinel.Quix-ōt'ic, a. p. 1078Like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance. “Feats of quixotic gallantry.” Prescott.Quix-ŏt'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1078In a mad or romantic manner.