Glossary (words starting with Q)
quack
a person who dishonestly claims to have medical or surgical skill, or who advertises false or fake remedies (OED n2. 1)
quaint
ingenious
quaint
elaborate, elegant, of an artfully designed fashion
quaint
courtly, refined (OED adj, 4a); strange, unusual, unfamiliar; curious, remarkable; mysterious (OED adj, 8); proud, vain (OED adj, 7)
quaint
skilful, clever
qualified
limited, moderated, regulated
qualified
controlled, regulated, modified (OED qualify v, 13)
qualify
appease; to pacify, make mild (OED 10)
qualities
abilities, accomplishments, cultual and aesthetic gifts
qualities
virtues, accomplishments
qualities
character traits (OED n. 2a); accomplishments or attainments (OED n. 2b); ranks or positions in society (OED n. 4a)
quality
rank, station, status (OED n. 3a)
quality
an attribute, a characteristic (OED quality n, II 7a)
quality
character, nature (OED n. 1a)
quality
character, disposition (OED n. 1a); trait, personal attribute (OED n. 2a) (with a possible pun on ‘rank or position in (a) society’ [OED n. 4a])
quality
profession, occupation, business, especially that of an actor (OED n. 6a [a])
quality
rank, status; professional ability
quality
a word with multiple possible meanings including profession and professional standing or ability (when reference is to actors); also referring to class and social standing (OED 3a [pertaining to class]; OED 1b and 2b [pertaining to ability])
quality
upper classes, or gentry (In fact, one of the Lancashire witches in 1612, Alice Nutter, was a gentlewoman. In the North Berwick witchcraft case of 1592 in Scotland, one of the accused (charges dropped), Barbara Napier, was a titled lady.)
qualm
sudden fit of faintness, illness, or sickness; (often associated with) fearfulness, faintheartedness (OED n3. 1 and 2a)
quarrel
grounds of complaint, reasons for hostility
quarter
lodging, room (now usually plural) (OED 16a)
quean
bold, impudent, or ill-behaved woman; a jade, hussy (OED 1)
queer cove
magistrate, justice of peace (see also 'queer cuffin' [GLOSS gg3604])
queer cuffin
a churlish or contemptible fellow; (also) a justice of the peace (thieves' cant) (OED queer a and n1, special uses).
questionable
liable to be called to account (OED 3)
questionless
unquestionably
Qui va la?
French: a military challenge: who goes there?
quick
the tenderest part (of a person's body or soul)
quick
lively
quick
alive
quick
any part of a wound or the body that is sensitive or painful (OED n1. 3a)
quickset
hedge or thicket (OED n1. 2)
quiddle
to fiddle or play about with (OED v. 2, citing The City Wit as first recorded usage)
quiet
sexually quiescent
quiet
peaceful, undisturbed; free from agitation (of the conscience, etc.) (OED adj. 10)
quiet
undisturbed, free from interference
quiet
placid, carefree
quillets
verbal niceties, quibbles
quintessence
essence; most perfect example
quintessence
the ‘fifth essence’ of ancient and medieval philosophy, latent in all things, the extraction of which, by distillation, was the object of alchemy (the term was used to describe alcoholic tinctures in early modern chemistry)
quit
paid back
quit
relieve, clear
quit
free, release
quit
remit or cancel (OED 9)
quit
to free or rid (one's self) of something undesirable or troublesome; to find release from an obligation (OED v. 6b)
quit
release, rescue, redeem (OED v. 6a)
quit
leave, go away from (OED v. 11a)
quit
exonerate (OED v. 7a)
quit
pay back
quite
completely, totally
quoit
throw (like a quoit and so the word carries sexual connotations, since quoits are round objects aimed at upright spikes with the intention of circling them about)
quondam
former
quoth he!
the phrase 'said he?', used with contemptuous or sarcastic force in repeating a word or phrase used by another; hence meaning indeed! forsooth!
quotha
'said he', i.e. indeed! (OED); sarcastic exclamation