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.
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.Quix'ot-ism, n. p. 1078Romantic and absurd notions; schemes or actions like those of Don Quixote, the hero of Cervantes.Quix'ot-ry, n. p. 1078Quixotism; visionary scheme.Quiz, n. p. 1078A riddle or obscure question; an enigma. 2. One who quizzes others; as, he is a great quiz. 3. An odd fellow. Smart.Quiz, v. t. p. 1078To puzzle; to run upon; to ridicule or make sport of. He quizzed unmercifully all the men in the room. Thackeray. 2. To look sharply and mockingly at; to peer at; to eye suspiciously.Quiz'zer, n. p. 1078One who quizzes others, or makes them the objects of sport by deceiving them.Quiz'zie-al, a. p. 1078Comical. [Colloq.]Quiz'zing-glāss, n. p. 1078A small eye-glass.Quiz'zism, n. p. 1078The act of one who quizzes; the habit of quizzing.Quōb, v. i. p. 1078To move, as the fetus in utero; to throb; to quiver. [Local and vulgar.]Quōd, v. i. p. 1078Quoth; said. See QUOTH. [Obs.]Quōd'dy, n. p. 1078A kind of scaled herrings, cured in North America by smoking or salting. Simmonds.Quōd'li-bet, n. p. 1078A nice point; a subtlety. These are your quodlibets, but no learning, brother. Fletcher. 2. (Mus.) A medley improvised by several performers.Quōd’lib-e-tā’ri-an, n. p. 1078One who talks and disputes on any subject at pleasure. [Obs.]Quōd'li-bē'tie-al, a. p. 1078Not restricted to a particular subject; moved or discussed at pleasure for curiosity or entertainment. [Obs.]Quŏd'li-bĕt'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 1078At pleasure; for curiosity; so as to be debated for entertainment. [Obs.]Quoif, n. p. 1078A cap or hood; a coif. Shak. In this word, and also in quoit, quote, quotation, and quotient, the u was formerly suppressed in pronunciation.Quoif, v. t. p. 1078To cover or dress with a coif. See COIF.Quoif'fûre, n. p. 1078A head-dress.Quoil, n. p. 1078A coil. See COIL.Quoin, n. p. 1078Any external angle; especially (Arch.), the external angle of a building; sometimes, formerly, vertical angular projections formed on the face of a wall for ornament. Oxf. Gloss. 2. A wedge-like…Quoit, n. p. 1078A circular ring or piece of iron, stone, or other material, to be pitched or thrown at a fixed object in play. 2. The discus of the ancients, thrown in trials of strength.Quoit, v. i. p. 1078To throw quoits; to play at quoits.Quoit, v. t. p. 1078To throw. Quoit him down, Randolph. Shak. 2. To drive away. Ford.Quŏll, n. p. 1078(Zoöl.) A marsupial quadruped of Australia; Dasyurus macrurus. It is nearly the size of a cat.Quōn'dam, a. p. 1078Having been formerly; former. This is the quondam king. Shak.Quōn'dam, n. p. 1078A person formerly in any position, office, &c.; one ejected from a position. [Rare.] Make them quondams; out with them; cast them out of their office. Latimer.