Q

Defn: , the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet, has but one sound (that of k), and is always followed by u, the two letters together being sounded like kw, except in some words in which the u is silent. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 249. Q is not found in Anglo-Saxon, cw being used instead of qu; as in cwic, quick; cwen, queen. The name (ku) is from the French ku, which is from the Latin name of the same letter; its form is from the Latin, which derived it, through a Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician, the ultimate origin being Egyptian. Etymologically, q or qu is most nearly related to a (ch, tch), p, q, and wh; as in cud, quid, L. equus, ecus, horse, Gr. equine, hippic; L. quod which, E. what; L. aquila, E. eaqle; E. kitchen, OE. kichene, AS. cycene, L. coquina.

QUA Qua, conj. Etym: [L., abl. of qui who.]

Defn: In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as. It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to deal. London Spectator.

QUAB Quab, n. Etym: [Cf. D. kwab eelpout, Dan. quabbe, G. quabbe, quappe, LG. quabbe a fat lump of flesh, and L. capito a kind of fish with a large head, fr. caput the head, also E. squab.]

Defn: An unfledged bird; hence, something immature or unfinished. Ford.

QUAB Quab, v. i.

Defn: See Quob, v. i.

QUA-BIRD Qua"-bird`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American night heron. See under Night.

QUACHA Qua"cha, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The quagga.

QUACK Quack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qvacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Quacking.] Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. D. kwaken, G. quacken, quaken, Icel. kvaka to twitter.]

1. To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.

2. To make vain and loud pretensions; to boast. " To quack of universal cures." Hudibras.

3. To act the part of a quack, or pretender.

QUACK Quack, n.

1. The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, quacking noise. Chaucer.

2. Etym: [Cf. Quacksalver.]

Defn: A boastful pretender to medical skill; an empiric; an ignorant practitioner.

3. Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any kind not possessed; a charlatan. Quacks political; quacks scientific, academical. Carlyle.

QUACK Quack, a.

Defn: Pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; used by quacks; pretending to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a quack doctor.

QUACKERY Quack"er*y, n.; pl. Quackeries (.

Defn: The acts, arts, or boastful pretensions of a quack; false pretensions to any art; empiricism. Carlyle.

QUACK GRASS Quack" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: See Quitch grass.

QUACKISH Quack"ish, a.

Defn: Like a quack; boasting; characterized by quackery. Burke.

QUACKISM Quack"ism, n.

Defn: Quackery. Carlyle.

QUACKLE Quac"kle, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Quackled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quackling.] Etym: [Cf.Querken.]

Defn: To suffocate; to choke. [Prov. Eng.]

QUACKSALVER Quack"sal*ver, n. Etym: [D. kwakzalver; cf. kwakzalven to quack or boast of one's salves. See Quack, Salve, n.]

Defn: One who boasts of his skill in medicines and salves, or of the efficacy of his prescriptions; a charlatan; a quack; a mountebank. [Obs.] Burton.

QUAD; QUADE Quad, Quade, a. Etym: [Akin to AS. cwæd, cwead, dung, evil, G. kot, dung, OHG. quat.]

Defn: Evil; bad; baffling; as, a quade wind. [Obs.] Sooth play, quad play, as the Fleming saith. Chaucer.

QUAD Quad, n. (Print.)

Defn: A quadrat.

QUAD Quad, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A quadrangle; hence, a prison. [Cant or Slang]

QUADRA Quad"ra, n.; pl. Quadræ. Etym: [L., a square, the socle, a platband, a fillet.] (Arch.) (a) The plinth, or lowest member, of any pedestal, podium, water table, or the like. (b) A fillet, or listel.

QUADRABLE Quad"ra*ble, a.Etym: [See Quadrate.] (Math.)

Defn: That may be sqyared, or reduced to an equivalent square; — said of a surface when the area limited by a curve can be exactly found, and expressed in a finite number of algebraic terms.

QUADRAGENARIOUS Quad`ra*ge*na"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. quadragenarius, fr. qyadrageni forty each.]

Defn: Consisting of forty; forty years old.

QUADRAGENE Quad"ra*gene, n. Etym: [LL. quadragena, fr. L. quadrageni forty each, akin to quadraginta forty.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: An indulgence of forty days, corresponding to the forty days of ancient canonical penance.

QUADRAGESIMA Quad`ra*ges"i*ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. quadragesimus the fortieth, fr. quadraginta forty; akin to quattuor four. See Four.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The forty days of fast preceding Easter; Lent. Quadragesima Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, about forty days before Easter.

QUADRAGESIMAL Quad`ra*ges"i*mal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quadragésimal.]

Defn: Belonging to Lent; used in Lent; Lenten.

QUADRAGESIMALS Quad`ra*ges"i*mals, n. pl.

Defn: Offerings formerly made to the mother church of a diocese on Mid-Lent Sunday.

QUADRANGLE Quad"ran`gle, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quadrangulum; quattuor four + angulus an angle. See Four, and Angle a corner.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A plane figure having four angles, and consequently four sides; any figure having four angles.

2. A square or quadrangular space or inclosure, such a space or court surrounded by buildings, esp. such a court in a college or public school in England.

QUADRANGULAR Quad*ran"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quadrangulaire.]

Defn: Having four angles, and consequently four sides; tetragonal. — Quad*ran"gu*lar*ly, adv.

QUADRANS Quad"rans, n.; pl. Quadrantes. Etym: [L.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A fourth part of the coin called an as. See 3d As, 2.

2. The fourth of a penny; a farthing. See Cur.

QUADRANT Quad"rant, n. Etym: [L. quadrans, -antis, a fourth part, a fourth of a whole, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quadrant, cadran. See Four, and cf. Cadrans.]

1. The fourth part; the quarter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The quarter of a circle, or of the circumference of a circle, an arc of 90º, or one subtending a right angle at the center.

3. (Anal. (Geom.)

Defn: One of the four parts into which a plane is divided by the coördinate axes. The upper right-hand part is the first quadrant; the upper left-hand part the second; the lower left-hand part the third; and the lower right-hand part the fourth quadrant.

4. An instrument for measuring altitudes, variously constructed and mounted for different specific uses in astronomy, surveying, gunnery, etc., consisting commonly of a graduated arc of 90º, with an index or vernier, and either plain or telescopic sights, and usually having a plumb line or spirit level for fixing the vertical or horizontal direction. Gunner's quadrant, an instrument consisting of a graduated limb, with a plumb line or spirit level, and an arm by which it is applied to a cannon or mortar in adjusting it to the elevation required for attaining the desired range. — Gunter's quadrant. See Gunter's quadrant, in the Vocabulary. Hadley's quadrant, a hand instrument used chiefly at sea to measure the altitude of the sun or other celestial body in ascertaining the vessel's position. It consists of a frame in the form of an octant having a graduated scale upon its arc, and an index arm, or alidade pivoted at its apex. Mirrors, called the index glass and the horizon glass, are fixed one upon the index arm and the other upon one side of the frame, respectively. When the instrument is held upright, the index arm may be swung so that the index glass will reflect an image of the sun upon the horizon glass, and when the reflected image of the sun coincides, to the observer's eye, with the horizon as seen directly through an opening at the side of the horizon glass, the index shows the sun's altitude upon the scale; — more properly, but less commonly, called an octant. — Quadrant of altitude, an appendage of the artificial globe, consisting of a slip of brass of the length of a quadrant of one of the great circles of the globe, and graduated. It may be fitted to the meridian, and being movable round to all points of the horizon, serves as a scale in measuring altitudes, azimuths, etc.

QUADRANTAL Quad*ran"tal, a. Etym: [L. quadrantalis containing the fourth fourth part of a measure.] (Geom.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a quadrant; also, included in the fourth part of a circle; as, quadrantal space. Quadrantal triangle, a spherical triangle having one side equal to a quadrant or arc of 90º. — Quadrantal versor, a versor that expresses rotation through one right angle.

QUADRANTAL Quad*ran"tal, n. Etym: [L.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A cubical vessel containing a Roman cubic foot, each side being a Roman square foot; — used as a measure.

2. A cube. [R.]

QUADRAT Quad"rat, n. Etym: [F. quadrat, cadrat. See Quadrate.]

1. (Print.)

Defn: A block of type metal lower than the letters, — used in spacing and in blank lines. [Abbrev. quad.]

2. An old instrument used for taking altitudes; — called also geometrical square, and line of shadows.

QUADRATE Quad"rate, a. Etym: [L. quadratus squared, p. p. of quadrare to make four-cornered, to make square, to square, to fit, suit, from quadrus square, quattuor four. See Quadrant, and cf. Quadrat, Quarry an arrow, Square.]

1. Having four equal sides, the opposite sides parallel, and four right angles; square. Figures, some round, some triangle, some quadrate. Foxe.

2. Produced by multiplying a number by itself; square. " Quadrate and cubical numbers." Sir T. Browne.

3. Square; even; balanced; equal; exact. [Archaic] " A quadrate, solid, wise man." Howell.

4. Squared; suited; correspondent. [Archaic] " A generical description quadrate to both." Harvey. Quadrate bone (Anat.), a bone between the base of the lower jaw and the skull in most vertebrates below the mammals. In reptiles and birds it articulates the lower jaw with the skull; in mammals it is represented by the malleus or incus.

QUADRATE Quad"rate, n. Etym: [L. quadratum. See Quadrate, a.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A plane surface with four equal sides and four right angles; a square; hence, figuratively, anything having the outline of a square. At which command, the powers militant That stood for heaven, in mighty quadrate joined. Milton.

2. (Astrol.)

Defn: An aspect of the heavenly bodies in which they are distant from each other 90º, or the quarter of a circle; quartile. See the Note under Aspect, 6.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: The quadrate bone.

QUADRATE Quad"rate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quadrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Quadrating.] Etym: [See Quadrate, a.]

Defn: To square; to agree; to suit; to correspond; — followed by with. [Archaic] The objections of these speculatists of its forms do not quadrate with their theories. Burke.

QUADRATE Quad"rate, v. t.

Defn: To adjust (a gun) on its carriage; also, to train (a gun) for horizontal firing.

QUADRATIC Quad*rat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quadratique.]

1. Of or pertaining to a square, or to squares; resembling a quadrate, or square; square.

2. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Tetragonal.

3. (Alg.)

Defn: Pertaining to terms of the second degree; as, a quadratic equation, in which the highest power of the unknown quantity is a square.

QUADRATICS Quad*rat"ics, n. (Alg.)

Defn: That branch of algebra which treats of quadratic equations.

QUADRATOJUGAL Quad*ra`to*ju"gal, a. (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the quadrate and jugal bones. (b) Of or pertaining to the quadratojugal bone. — n.

Defn: The quadratojugal bone. Quadratojugal bone (Anat.), a bone at the base of the lower jaw in many animals.

QUADRATRIX Quad*ra"trix, n.; pl. -trixes, or -trices. Etym: [NL.] (Geom.)

Defn: A curve made use of in the quadrature of other curves; as the quadratrix, of Dinostratus, or of Tschirnhausen.

QUADRATURE Quad"ra*ture, n. Etym: [L. quadratura: cf. F. quadrature. See Quadrate, a.]

1. (Math.)

Defn: The act of squaring; the finding of a square having the same area as some given curvilinear figure; as, the quadrature of a circle; the operation of finding an expression for the area of a figure bounded wholly or in part by a curved line, as by a curve, two ordinates, and the axis of abscissas.

2. A quadrate; a square. Milton.

3. (Integral Calculus)

Defn: The integral used in obtaining the area bounded by a curve; hence, the definite integral of the product of any function of one variable into the differential of that variable.

4. (Astron.)

Defn: The position of one heavenly body in respect to another when distant from it 90º, or a quarter of a circle, as the moon when at an equal distance from the points of conjunction and opposition. Quadrature of the moon (Astron.), the position of the moon when one half of the disk is illuminated. — Quadrature of an orbit (Astron.), a point in an orbit which is at either extremity of the latus rectum drawn through the empty focus of the orbit.

QUADREL Quad"rel, n. Etym: [It. quadrello, LL. quadrellus, fr. L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quarrel an arrow.]

1. A square piece of turf or peat. [Prov. Eng.]

2. A square brick, tile, or the like.

QUADRENNIAL Quad*ren"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. quadriennium a space of four years; quattuor four + annus year; cf. L. quadriennis. See Quadrate, and Annual.]

1. Comprising four years; as, a quadrennial period.

2. Occurring once in four years, or at the end of every four years; as, quadrennial games.

QUADRENNIALLY Quad*ren"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Once in four years.

QUADRENNIUM Quad*ren"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Quadrennial.]

Defn: A space or period of four years.

QUADRI- Quad"ri-. Etym: [L., from quattuor four. See Four.]

Defn: A combining form meaning four, four times, fourfold; as, quadricapsular, having four capsules.

QUADRIBASIC Quad`ri*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Quadri- + basic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Tetrabasic.

QUADRIBLE Quad"ri*ble, a.

Defn: Quadrable. [R.]

QUADRIC Quad"ric, a. (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the second degree.

QUADRIC Quad"ric, n. (a) (Alg.) A quantic of the second degree. See Quantic. (b) (Geom.) A surface whose equation in three variables is of the second degree. Spheres, spheroids, ellipsoids, paraboloids, hyperboloids, also cones and cylinders with circular bases, are quadrics.

QUADRICAPSULAR Quad`ri*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Quadri- + capsular.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having four capsules.

QUADRICEPS Quad"ri*ceps, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. qyattuor four + caput head.] (Anat.)

Defn: The great extensor muscle of the knee, divided above into four parts which unite in a single tendon at the knee.

QUADRICIPITAL Quad`ri*cip"i*tal, n. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the quadriceps.

QUADRICORN Quad"ri*corn, n. Etym: [See Quadricornous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any quadricornous animal.

QUADRICORNOUS Quad`ri*cor"nous, a. Etym: [Quadri- + L. cornu horn: cf. F. quadricorne.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having four horns, or hornlike organs; as, a quadricornous beetle.

QUADRICOSTATE Quad`ri*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Quadri- + costate.]

Defn: Having four ribs.

QUADRIDENTATE Quad`ri*den"tate, a. Etym: [Quadri- + dentate.]

Defn: Having four teeth; as, a quadridentate leaf.

QUADRIENNIAL Quad`ri*en"ni*al, a.

Defn: Same as Quadrennial.

QUADRIFARIOUS Quad`ri*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. quadrifarius fourfold, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quadrifarié. Cf. Multifarious.]

Defn: Arranged in four rows or ranks; as, quadrifarious leaves. Loudon.

QUADRIFID Quad"ri*fid, a. Etym: [L. quadrifidus; quattuor four + findere to cleave: cf. F. quadrifide.]

Defn: Divided, or deeply cleft, into four parts; as, a quadrifid perianth; a quadrifid leaf.

QUADRIFOIL; QUADRIFOLIATE Quad"ri*foil, Quad`ri*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Quadri- + L. folium leaf.] (Bot.)

Defn: Four-leaved; having the leaves in whorls of four.

QUADRIFURCATED Quad`ri*fur"ca*ted, a. Etym: [Quadri- + furcated.]

Defn: Having four forks, or branches.

QUADRIGA Quad*ri"ga, n.; pl. Quadrigæ. Etym: [L. See Quadrijugous.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A car or chariot drawn by four horses abreast.

QUADRIGEMINAL; QUADRIGEMINOUS Quad`ri*gem"i*nal, Quad`ri*gem"i*nous, a. Etym: [Quadri- + L. gemini twins.]

Defn: Fourfold; having four similar parts, or two pairs of similar parts. Quadrigeminal bodies (Anat.), two pairs of lobes, or elevations, on the dorsal side of the midbrain of most mammals; the optic lobes. The anterior pair are called the nates, and the posterior the testes.

QUADRIGENARIOUS Quad`ri*ge*na"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. quadrigeni, quadringeni, four hundred each.]

Defn: Consisting of four hundred.

QUADRIJUGATE Quad*rij"u*gate, a.

Defn: Same as Quadrijugous.

QUADRIJUGOUS Quad*rij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. quadrijugus of a team of four; quattuor four + jugum yoke.] (Bot.)

Defn: Pinnate, with four pairs of leaflets; as, a quadrijugous leaf.

QUADRILATERAL Quad`ri*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [L. quadrilaterus: cf. F. quadrilatère, quadrilatéral. See Quadri- and Lateral.]

Defn: Having four sides, and consequently four angles; quadrangular.

QUADRILATERAL Quad`ri*lat"er*al, n.

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A plane figure having four sides, and consequently four angles; a quadrangular figure; any figure formed by four lines.

2. An area defended by four fortresses supporting each other; as, the Venetian quadrilateral, comprising Mantua, Peschiera, Verona, and Legnano. Complete quadrilateral (Geom.), the figure made up of the six straight lines that can be drawn through four points, A., B, C, I, the lines being supposed to be produced indefinitely.

QUADRILATERALNESS Quad`ri*lat"er*al*ness, n.

Defn: The property of being quadrilateral.

QUADRILITERAL Quad`ri*lit"er*al, a. Etym: [Quadri- + literal.]

Defn: Consisting of four letters.

QUADRILLE Qua*drille", n. Etym: [F. quadrille, n. fem., fr. Sp. cuadrilla meeting of four or more persons or It. quadriglia a band of soldiers, a sort of dance; dim. fr. L. quadra a square, fr. quattuor four. See Quadrate.]

1. A dance having five figures, in common time, four couples of dancers being in each set.

2. The appropriate music for a quadrille.

QUADRILLE Qua*drille", n. Etym: [F. quadrille, n. masc., cf. It. quadriglio; or perhaps from the Spanish. See Quadrille a dance.]

Defn: A game played by four persons with forty cards, being the remainder of an ordinary pack after the tens, nines, and eights are discarded. Hoyle.

QUADRILLION Quad*ril"lion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quater four times, akin to quattuor four, E. four; — formed like million. See Four, Million.]

Defn: According to the French notation, which is followed also upon the Continent and in the United States, a unit with fifteen ciphers annexed; according to the English notation, the number produced by involving a million to the fourth power, or the number represented by a unit with twenty-four ciphers annexed. See the Note under Numeration.

QUADRILOBATE; QUADRILOBED Quad`ri*lo"bate, Quad`ri*lobed, a. Etym: [Quadri- + lobe: cf. F. quadrilobé.]

Defn: Having four lobes; as, a quadrilobate leaf.

QUADRILOCULAR Quad`ri*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Quadri- + locular: cf. F. quadriloculaire.]

Defn: Having four cells, or cavities; as, a quadrilocular heart.

QUADRIN Quad"rin, n. Etym: [OF., fr. L. quadrini four each, fr. quattuor four.]

Defn: A small piece of money, in value about a farthing, or a half cent. [Obs.]

QUADRINODAL Quad`ri*nod"al, a. Etym: [Quadri- + nodal.] (Math.)

Defn: Possessing four nodes; as, quadrinodal curves.

QUADRINOMIAL Quad`ri*no"mi*al, n. Etym: [Quadri- + nomial, as in binomial: cf. F. quadrinôme.] (Alg.)

Defn: A polynomial of four terms connected by the signs plus or minus.

QUADRINOMICAL Quad`ri*nom"ic*al, a.

Defn: Quadrinomial.

QUADRINOMINAL Quad`ri*nom"i*nal, a. Etym: [Quadri- + nominal.] (Alg.)

Defn: Quadrinomial. Sir W. R. Hamilton.

QUADRIPARTITE Quad*rip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. quadripartitus, p. p. of quadripartire to divide into four parts; quattuor four + partire to divide: cf. F. quadripartite.]

Defn: Divided into four parts.

QUADRIPARTITELY Quad*rip"ar*tite*ly, adv.

Defn: In four parts.

QUADRIPARTITION Quad`ri*par*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. quadripartitio: cf. F. quadripartition.]

Defn: A division or distribution by four, or into four parts; also, a taking the fourth part of any quantity or number.

QUADRIPENNATE Quad`ri*pen"nate, a. Etym: [Quadri- + pennate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having four wings; — said of insects.

QUADRIPHYLLOUS Quad*riph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Quadri + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having four leaves; quadrifoliate.

QUADRIREME Quad"ri*reme, n. Etym: [L. quadriremis; quattuor four + remus an oar: cf. F. quadrirème.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A galley with four banks of oars or rowers.

QUADRISECTION Quad`ri*sec"tion, n. Etym: [Quadri- + section.]

Defn: A subdivision into four parts.

QUADRISULCATE Quad`ri*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Quadri + sulcate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having four hoofs; as, a quadrisulcate foot; a quadrisulcate animal.

QUADRISYLLABIC; QUADRI-SYLLABICAL Quad`ri*syl*lab"ic, Quad`ri-syl*lab"ic*al,

Defn: Having four syllables; of or pertaining to quadrisyllables; as, a quadrisyllabic word.

QUADRISYLLABLE Quad`ri*syl"la*ble, n. Etym: [Quadri- + syllable: cf. F. quadrisyllabe.]

Defn: A word consisting of four syllables. De Quincey.

QUADRIVALENCE Quad*riv"a*lence, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The quality or state of being quadrivalent; tetravalence.

QUADRIVALENT Quad*riv"a*lent, a. Etym: [Quadri- + L. valens, -entis, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.)

Defn: Having a valence of four; capable of combining with, being replaced by, or compared with, four monad atoms; tetravalent; — said of certain atoms and radicals; thus, carbon and silicon are quadrivalent elements.

QUADRIVALVE Quad"ri*valve, a. Etym: [Quadri- + valve: cf. F. quadrivalve.] (Bot.)

Defn: Dehiscent into four similar parts; four-valved; as, a quadrivalve pericarp.

QUADRIVALVE Quad"ri*valve, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A door, shutter, or the like, having four folds.

QUADRIVALVULAR Quad`ri*val"vu*lar, a.

Defn: Having four valves; quadrivalve.

QUADRIVIAL Quad*riv"i*al, a. Etym: [L. quadrivium a place where four ways meet; quattuor four + via way.]

Defn: Having four ways meeting in a point. B. Jonson.

QUADRIVIAL Quad*riv"i*al, n.

Defn: One of the four "liberal arts" making up the quadrivium.

QUADRIVIUM Quad*riv"i*um, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: The four "liberal arts," arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy; — so called by the schoolmen. See Trivium.

QUADROON Quad*roon", n. Etym: [F. quarteron, or Sp. cuarteron. See Quarter a fourth part, and cf. Quarteron.]

Defn: The offspring of a mulatto and a white person; a person quarter-blooded. [Written also quarteron, quarteroon, and quateron.]

QUADROXIDE Quad*rox"ide, n. Etym: [Quadri- + oxide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A tetroxide. [R.]

QUADRUMANA Quad*ru"ma*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Quadrumane.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of the Primates comprising the apes and monkeys; — so called because the hind foot is usually prehensile, and the great toe opposable somewhat like a thumb. Formerly the Quadrumana were considered an order distinct from the Bimana, which last included man alone.

QUADRUMANE Quad"ru*mane, n. Etym: [L. quattuor four + manus a hand: cf. F. quadrumane.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Quadrumana.

QUADRUMANOUS Quad*ru"ma*nous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having four hands; of or pertaining to the Quadrumana.

QUADRUPED Quad"ru*ped, a. Etym: [L. quadrupes, -pedis; quattuor four + pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. quadrupède. See Quadrate, and Foot.]

Defn: Having four feet.

QUADRUPED Quad"ru*ped, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal having four feet, as most mammals and reptiles; — often restricted to the mammals.

QUADRUPEDAL Quad*ru"pe*dal, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having four feet; of or pertaining to a quadruped.

QUADRUPLANE Quad"ru*plane, n. [L. quadru-in comp. + E. plane.]

Defn: An aëroplane with four superposed main supporting surfaces.

QUADRUPLE Quad"ru*ple, a. Etym: [L. quadruplus, from quattuor four: cf. F. quadruple. See Quadrate, and cf. Double.]

Defn: Fourfold; as, to make quadruple restitution; a quadruple alliance. Quadruple time (Mus.), that in which each measure is divided into four equal parts.

QUADRUPLE Quad"ru*ple, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quadruple, L. quadruplum.]

Defn: four times the sum or number; a fourfold amount; as, to receive to quadruple of the amount in damages.

QUADRUPLE Quad"ru*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quadrupled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quadrupling.] Etym: [L. quadruplare: cf. F. quadrupler.]

Defn: To multiply by four; to increase fourfold; to double; to double twice. A. Smith.

QUADRUPLE Quad"ru*ple, v. i.

Defn: To be multiplied by four; to increase fourfold; to become four times as much.

QUADRUPLET Quad"ru*plet, n. [From Quadruple.]

1. A collection or combination of four of a kind.

2. pl. Four children born in the same labor.

3. A cycle for carrying four riders, so arranged that all the reders can assist in the propulsion.

QUADRUPLEX Quad"ru*plex, a. Etym: [L., from quattuor four + plicare to fold.]

Defn: Fourfold; folded or doubled twice. Quadruplex system (Electric Telegraph), a system by which four messages, two in each direction, may be sent simultaneously over the wire.

QUADRUPLICATE Quad*ru"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quadruplicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Quadruplicating.] Etym: [L. quadruplicatus, p. p. of quadruplicare, fr. quadrupleQuadruplex.]

Defn: To make fourfold; to double twice; to quadruple.

QUADRUPLICATE Quad*ru"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. quadruplicatus, p. p.]

1. Fourfold; doubled twice; four times repeated; as, a quadruplicate ratio, or a quadruplicate proportion.

2. (Math.)

Defn: Raised to the fourth power. [R.]

QUADRUPLICATION Quad`ru*pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. quadruplicatio: cf. F. quadruplication.]

Defn: The act of making fourfold; a taking four times the simple sum or amount.

QUADRUPLY Quad"ru*ply, adv.

Defn: To a fourfold quantity; so as to be, or cause to be, quadruple; as, to be quadruply recompensed.

QUAERE Quæ"re, v. imperative. Etym: [L., imperative of quaerere to seek.]

Defn: Inquire; question; see; — used to signify doubt or to suggest investigation.

QUAESTOR Quæs"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Same as Questor.

QUAFF Quaff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quaffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Quaffing.] Etym: [For quach, fr. Gael. & Ir. cuach a drinking cup; cf. L. caucus a drinking vessel. Cf. Quaigh.]

Defn: To drink with relish; to drink copiously of; to swallow in large draughts. "Quaffed off the muscadel." Shak. They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet Quaff immortality and joy. Milton.

QUAFF Quaff, v. i.

Defn: To drink largely or luxuriously. Twelve days the gods their solemn revels keep, And quaff with blameless Ethiops in the deep. Dryden.

QUAFFER Quaff"er, n.

Defn: One who quaffs, or drinks largely.

QUAG Quag, n.

Defn: A quagmire. [R.] "Crooked or straight, through quags or thorny dells." Cowper.

QUAGGA Quag"ga, n. Etym: [Hottentot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South African wild ass (Equus, or Hippotigris, quagga). The upper parts are reddish brown, becoming paler behind and behind and beneath, with dark stripes on the face, neck, and fore part of the body.

QUAGGY Quag"gy, a.Etym: [See Quag, Quagmire.]

Defn: Of the nature of a quagmire; yielding or trembling under the foot, as soft, wet earth; spongy; boggy. "O'er the watery strath, or quaggy moss." Collins.

QUAGMIRE Quag"mire`, n. Etym: [Quake + mire.]

Defn: Soft, wet, miry land, which shakes or yields under the feet. "A spot surrounded by quagmires, which rendered it difficult of access." Palfrey.

Syn. — Morass; marsh; bog; swamp; fen; slough.

QUAHOG; QUAHAUG Qua"hog, Qua"haug, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. Narragansett Indian poquaûhock.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American market clam (Venus mercenaria). It is sold in large quantities, and is highly valued as food. Called also round clam, and hard clam.

Note: The name is also applied to other allied species, as Venus Mortoni of the Gulf of Mexico.

QUAIGH; QUAICH Quaigh, Quaich, n. Etym: [Gael.cuach. Cf. Quaff.]

Defn: A small shallow cup or drinking vessel. [Scot.] [Written also quegh.]

QUAIL Quail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qualled; p. pr. & vb. n. Qualling.] Etym: [AS.cwelan to die, perish; akin to cwalu violent death, D. kwaal pain, G. qual torment, OHG. quelan to suffer torment, Lith. gelti to hurt, gela pain. Cf. Quell.]

1. To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To become quelled; to become cast down; to sink under trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the spirit and power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to shrink; to cower. The atheist power shall quail, and confess his fears. I. Taylor. Stouter hearts than a woman's have quailed in this terrible winter. Longfellow.

Syn. — to cower; flinch; shrink; quake; tremble; blench; succumb; yield.

QUAIL Quail, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Quell.]

Defn: To cause to fail in spirit or power; to quell; to crush; to subdue. [Obs.] Spenser.

QUAIL Quail, v. i. Etym: [OF. coaillier, F. cailler, from L. coagulare. See Coagulate.]

Defn: To curdle; to coagulate, as milk. [Obs.] Holland.

QUAIL Quail, n. Etym: [OF. quaille, F. caille, LL. quaquila, qualia, qualea, of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. kwakkel, kwartel, OHG. wahtala, G. wachtel.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any gallinaceous bird belonging to Coturnix and several allied genera of the Old World, especially the common European quail (C. communis), the rain quail (C. Coromandelica) of India, the stubble quail (C. pectoralis), and the Australian swamp quail (Synoicus australis).

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several American partridges belonging to Colinus, Callipepla, and allied genera, especially the bobwhite (called Virginia quail, and Maryland quail), and the California quail (Calipepla Californica).

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of Turnix and allied genera, native of the Old World, as the Australian painted quail (Turnix varius). See Turnix.

4. A prostitute; — so called because the quail was thought to be a very amorous bird.[Obs.] Shak. Bustard quail (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic quail-like bird of the genus Turnix, as T. taigoor, a black-breasted species, and the hill bustard quail (T. ocellatus). See Turnix. — Button quail (Zoöl.), one of several small Asiatic species of Turnix, as T. Sykesii, which is said to be the smallest game bird of India. — Mountain quail. See under Mountain. — Quail call, a call or pipe for alluring quails into a net or within range. — Quail dove (Zoöl.), any one of several American ground pigeons belonging to Geotrygon and allied genera. — Quail hawk (Zoöl.), the New Zealand sparrow hawk (Hieracidea Novæ-Hollandiæ). — Quail pipe. See Quail call, above. — Quail snipe (Zoöl.), the dowitcher, or red-breasted snipe; — called also robin snipe, and brown snipe. — Sea quail (Zoöl.), the turnstone. [Local, U. S.]

QUAILY Quail"y, n. Etym: [Cf. Quail the bird.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The upland plover. [Canadian]

QUAINT Quaint, a. Etym: [OE. queint, queynte, coint, prudent, wise, cunning, pretty, odd, OF. cointe cultivated, amiable, agreeable, neat, fr. L. cognitus known, p. p. of cognoscere to know; con + noscere (for gnoscere) to know. See Know, and cf. Acquaint, Cognition.]

1. Prudent; wise; hence, crafty; artful; wily. [Obs.] Clerks be full subtle and full quaint. Chaucer.

2. Characterized by ingenuity or art; finely fashioned; skillfully wrought; elegant; graceful; nice; neat. [Archaic] " The queynte ring." " His queynte spear." Chaucer. " A shepherd young quaint." Chapman. Every look was coy and wondrous quaint. Spenser. To show bow quaint an orator you are. Shak.

3. Curious and fanciful; affected; odd; whimsical; antique; archaic; singular; unusual; as, quaint architecture; a quaint expression. Some stroke of quaint yet simple pleasantry. Macaulay. An old, long-faced, long-bodied servant in quaint livery. W. Irving.

Syn. — Quaint, Odd, Antique. Antique is applied to that which has come down from the ancients, or which is made to imitate some ancient work of art. Odd implies disharmony, incongruity, or unevenness. An odd thing or person is an exception to general rules of calculation and procedure, or expectation and common experience. In the current use of quaint, the two ideas of odd and antique are combined, and the word is commonly applied to that which is pleasing by reason of both these qualities. Thus, we speak of the quaint architecture of many old buildings in London; or a quaint expression, uniting at once the antique and the fanciful.

QUAINTISE Quain"tise, n. Etym: [OF. cointise.]

1. Craft; subtlety; cunning. [Obs.] Chaucer. R. of Glouces.

2. Elegance; beauty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

QUAINTLY Quaint"ly, adv.

Defn: In a quaint manner. Shak.

QUAINTNESS Quaint"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being quaint. Pope.

QUAIR Quair, n. Etym: [See 3d Quire.]

Defn: A quire; a book. [Obs.] " The king's quhair." James I. (of Scotland).

QUAKE Quake, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Quaking.] Etym: [AS. cwacian; cf. G. quackeln. Cf. Quagmire.]

1. To be agitated with quick, short motions continually repeated; to shake with fear, cold, etc.; to shudder; to tremble. Quaking for dread." Chaucer. She stood quaking like the partridge on which the hawk is ready to seize. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To shake, vibrate, or quiver, either from not being solid, as soft, wet land, or from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the mountains quake. " Over quaking bogs." Macaulay.

QUAKE Quake, v. t. Etym: [Cf. AS. cweccan to move, shake. See Quake, v. t.]

Defn: To cause to quake. [Obs.] Shak.

QUAKE Quake, n.

Defn: A tremulous agitation; a quick vibratory movement; a shudder; a quivering.

QUAKER Quak"er, n.

1. One who quakes.

2. One of a religious sect founded by George Fox, of Leicestershire, England, about 1650, — the members of which call themselves Friends. They were called Quakers, originally, in derision. See Friend, n., 4. Fox's teaching was primarily a preaching of repentance . . . The trembling among the listening crowd caused or confirmed the name of Quakers given to the body; men and women sometimes fell down and lay struggling as if for life. Encyc. Brit.

3. (Zoöl.) (a) The nankeen bird. (b) The sooty albatross. (c) Any grasshopper or locust of the genus (Edipoda; — so called from the quaking noise made during flight. Quaker buttons. (Bot.) See Nux vomica. — Quaker gun, a dummy cannon made of wood or other material; — so called because the sect of Friends, or Quakers, hold to the doctrine, of nonresistance. — Quaker ladies (Bot.), a low American biennial plant (Houstonia cærulea), with pretty four-lobed corollas which are pale blue with a yellowish center; — also called bluets, and little innocents.

QUAKERESS Quak"er*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who is a member of the Society of Friends.

QUAKERISH Quak"er*ish, a.

Defn: Like or pertaining to a Quaker; Quakerlike.

QUAKERISM Quak"er*ism, n.

Defn: The peculiar character, manners, tenets, etc., of the Quakers.

QUAKERLIKE Quak"er*like, a.

Defn: Like a Quaker.

QUAKERLY Quak"er*ly, a.

Defn: Resembling Quakers; Quakerlike; Quakerish. Macaulay.

QUAKERY Quak"er*y, n.

Defn: Quakerism. [Obs.] Hallywell.

QUAKETAIL Quake"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wagtail.

QUAKINESS Quak"i"ness, n.

Defn: The state of being quaky; liability to quake.

QUAKING Quak"ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Quake, v. Quaking aspen (Bot.), an American species of poplar (Populus tremuloides), the leaves of which tremble in the lightest breeze. It much resembles the European aspen. See Aspen. — Quaking bog, a bog of forming peat so saturated with water that it shakes when trodden upon. — Quaking grass. (Bot.) (a) One of several grasses of the genus Briza, having slender-stalked and pendulous ovate spikelets, which quake and rattle in the wind. Briza maxima is the large quaking grass; B. media and B. minor are the smaller kinds. (b) Rattlesnake grass (Glyceria Canadensis).

QUAKINGLY Quak"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a quaking manner; fearfully. Sir P. Sidney.

QUAKY Quak"y, a.

Defn: Shaky, or tremulous; quaking.

QUALIFIABLE Qual"i*fi`a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being qualified; abatable; modifiable. Barrow.

QUALIFICATION Qual`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. qualification. See Qualify.]

1. The act of qualifying, or the condition of being qualified.

2. That which qualifies; any natural endowment, or any acquirement, which fits a person for a place, office, or employment, or which enables him to sustian any character with success; an enabling quality or circumstance; requisite capacity or possession. There is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom, actual or presumptive. Burke.

3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited; that which qualifies by limiting; modification; restriction; hence, abatement; diminution; as, to use words without any qualification.

QUALIFICATIVE Qual"i*fi*ca*tive, n.

Defn: That which qualifies, modifies, or restricts; a qualifying term or statement. How many qualificatives, correctives, and restrictives he inserteth in this relation. Fuller.

QUALIFICATOR Qual"i*fi*ca`tor, n. Etym: [LL.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: An officer whose business it is to examine and prepare causes for trial in the ecclesiastical courts.

QUALIFIED Qual"i*fied, a.

1. Fitted by accomplishments or endowments.

2. Modified; limited; as, a qualified statement. Qualified fee (Law), a base fee, or an estate which has a qualification annexed to it, the fee ceasing with the qualification, as a grant to A and his heirs, tenants of the manor of Dale. — Qualified indorsement (Law), an indorsement which modifies the liability of the indorser that would result from the general principles of law, but does not affect the negotiability of the instrument. Story. — Qualified negative (Legislation), a limited veto power, by which the chief executive in a constitutional government may refuse assent to bills passed by the legislative body, which bills therefore fail to become laws unless upon a reconsideration the legislature again passes them by a certain majority specified in the constitution, when they become laws without the approval of the executive. Qualified property (Law), that which depends on temporary possession, as that in wild animals reclaimed, or as in the case of a bailment.

Syn. — Competent; fit; adapted. — Qualified, Competent. Competent is most commonly used with respect to native endowments and general ability suited to the performance of a task or duty; qualified with respect to specific acquirements and training.

QUALIFIEDLY Qual"i*fied`ly, adv.

Defn: In the way of qualification; with modification or qualification.

QUALIFIEDNESS Qual"i*fied`ness, n.

Defn: The state of being qualified.

QUALIFIER Qual"i*fi`er

Defn: , One who, or that which, qualifies; that which modifies, reduces, tempers or restrains.

QUALIFY Qual"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Qualified; p. pr. & vb. n. Qualifying.] Etym: [F. qualifier, LL. qualificare, fr. L. qualis how constituted, as + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Quality, and -Fy.]

1. To make such as is required; to give added or requisite qualities to; to fit, as for a place, office, occupation, or character; to furnish with the knowledge, skill, or other accomplishment necessary for a purpose; to make capable, as of an employment or privilege; to supply with legal power or capacity. He had qualified himself for municipal office by taking the oaths to the sovereigns in possession. Macaulay.

2. To give individual quality to; to modulate; to vary; to regulate. It hath no larynx . . . to qualify the sound. Sir T. Browne.

3. To reduce from a general, undefined, or comprehensive form, to particular or restricted form; to modify; to limit; to restrict; to restrain; as, to qualify a statement, claim, or proposition.

4. Hence, to soften; to abate; to diminish; to assuage; to reduce the strength of, as liquors. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire, But qualify the fire's extreme rage. Shak.

5. To soothe; to cure; — said of persons. [Obs.] In short space he has them qualified. Spenser.

Syn. — To fit; equip; prepare; adapt; capacitate; enable; modify; soften; restrict; restrain; temper.

QUALIFY Qual"i*fy, v. i.

1. To be or become qualified; to be fit, as for an office or employment.

2. To obtain legal power or capacity by taking the oath, or complying with the forms required, on assuming an office.

QUALITATIVE Qual"i*ta*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. gualitativus, F. qualitatif.]

Defn: Relating to quality; having the character of quality. — Qual"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. Qualitative analysis (Chem.), analysis which merely determines the constituents of a substance without any regard to the quantity of each ingredient; — contrasted with quantitative analysis.

QUALITIED Qual"i*tied, a.

Defn: Furnished with qualities; endowed. [Obs.] "He was well qualitied." Chapman.

QUALITY Qual"i*ty, n.; pl. Qualities. Etym: [F. qualité, L. qualitas, fr. qualis how constituted, as; akin to E. which. See Which.]

1. The condition of being of such and such a sort as distinguished from others; nature or character relatively considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank. We lived most joyful, obtaining acquaintance with many of the city not of the meanest quality. Bacon

2. Special or temporary character; profession; occupation; assumed or asserted rank, part, or position. I made that inquiry in quality of an antiquary. Gray.

3. That which makes, or helps to make, anything such as it is; anything belonging to a subject, or predicable of it; distinguishing property, characteristic, or attribute; peculiar power, capacity, or virtue; distinctive trait; as, the tones of a flute differ from those of a violin in quality; the great quality of a statesman.

Note: Qualities, in metaphysics, are primary or secondary. Primary are those essential to the existence, and even the conception, of the thing, as of matter or spirit Secondary are those not essential to such a conception.

4. An acquired trait; accomplishment; acquisition. He had those qualities of horsemanship, dancing, and fencing which accompany a good breeding. Clarendon.

5. Superior birth or station; high rank; elevated character. "Persons of quality." Bacon. Quality binding, a kind of worsted tape used in Scotland for binding carpets, and the like. The quality, those of high rank or station, as distinguished from the masses, or common people; the nobility; the gentry. I shall appear at the masquerade dressed up in my feathers, that the quality may see how pretty they will look in their traveling habits. Addison.

Syn. — Property; attribute; nature; peculiarity; character; sort; rank; disposition; temper.

QUALM Qualm, n. Etym: [AS. cwealm death, slaughter, pestilence, akin to OS. & OHG. qualm. See Quail to cower.]

1. Sickness; disease; pestilence; death. [Obs.] thousand slain and not of qualm ystorve [dead]. Chaucer.

2. A sudden attack of illness, faintness, or pain; an agony. " Qualms of heartsick agony." Milton.

3. Especially, a sudden sensation of nausea. For who, without a qualm, hath ever looked On holy garbage, though by Homer cooked Roscommon.

4. A prick or scruple of conscience; uneasiness of conscience; compunction. Dryden.

QUALMISH Qualm"ish, a.

Defn: Sick at the stomach; affected with nausea or sickly languor; inclined to vomit. Shak. — Qualm"ish*ly, adv. — Qualm"ish*ness, n.

QUAMASH Quam"ash, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Camass.

QUAMOCLIT Quam"o*clit, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Formerly, a genus of plants including the cypress vine (Quamoclit vulgaris, now called Ipomoea Quamoclit). The genus is now merged in Ipomoea.

QUANDARY Quan"da*ry, n.; pl. Quandaries. Etym: [Prob. fr. OE. wandreth adversity, perplexity, Icel. wandræedhi difficulty, trouble, fr. vandr difficult.]

Defn: A state of difficulty or perplexity; doubt; uncertainty.

QUANDARY Quan"da*ry, v. t.

Defn: To bring into a state of uncertainty, perplexity, or difficulty. [Obs.] Otway.

QUANDONG Quan"dong, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The edible drupaceous fruit of an Australian tree (Fusanus acuminatus) of the Sandalwood family; — called also quandang.

QUANDY Quan"dy, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The old squaw. [Local, U. S.]

QUANNET Quan"net, n.

Defn: A flat file having the handle at one side, so as to be used like a plane.

QUANT Quant, n.

Defn: A punting pole with a broad flange near the end to prevent it from sinking into the mud; a setting pole.

QUANTIC Quan"tic, n. Etym: [L. quantus how much. See Quantity.] (Math.)

Defn: A homogeneous algebraic function of two or more variables, in general containing only positive integral powers of the variables, and called quadric, cubic, quartic, etc., according as it is of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or a higher degree. These are further called binary, ternary, quaternary, etc., according as they contain two, three, four, or more variables; thus, the quantic is a binary cubic.

QUANTIFICATION Quan`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Quantity.]

Defn: Modification by a reference to quantity; the introduction of the element of quantity. The quantification of the predicate belongs in part to Sir William Hamilton; viz., in its extension to negative propositions. De Quincey.

QUANTIFY Quan"ti*fy v. t. Etym: [L. quantus now much + -fy.]

Defn: To modify or qualify with respect to quantity; to fix or express the quantity of; to rate.

QUANTITATIVE Quan"ti*ta*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quantitatif.]

Defn: Relating to quantity. — Quan"ti*ta*tive*ly, adv. Quantitative analysis (Chem.), analysis which determines the amount or quantity of each ingredient of a substance, by weight or by volume; — contrasted with qualitative analysis.

QUANTITIVE Quan"ti*tive, a. Etym: [See Quantity.]

Defn: Estimable according to quantity; quantitative. Sir K. Digby.

QUANTITIVELY Quan"ti*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to be measurable by quantity; quantitatively.

QUANTITY Quan"ti*ty, n.; pl. Quantities. Etym: [F. quantite, L. quantitas, fr. quantus bow great, how much, akin to quam bow, E. how, who. See Who.]

1. The attribute of being so much, and not more or less; the property of being measurable, or capable of increase and decrease, multiplication and division; greatness; and more concretely, that which answers the question "How much"; measure in regard to bulk or amount; determinate or comparative dimensions; measure; amount; bulk; extent; size. Hence, in specific uses: (a) (Logic) The extent or extension of a general conception, that is, the number of species or individuals to which it may be applied; also, its content or comprehension, that is, the number of its constituent qualities, attributes, or relations. (b) (Gram.) The measure of a syllable; that which determines the time in which it is pronounced; as, the long or short quantity of a vowel or syllable. (c) (Mus.) The relative duration of a tone.

2. That which can be increased, diminished, or measured; especially (Math.), anything to which mathematical processes are applicable.

Note: Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are connected, either in succession, as in time, motion, etc., or in extension, as by the dimensions of space, viz., length, breadth, and thickness.

3. A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or bulk; a certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount; a large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in quantities, that is, in large quantities. The quantity of extensive and curious information which he had picked up during many months of desultory, but not unprofitable, study. Macaulay. Quantity of estate (Law), its time of continuance, or degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for years. Wharton (Law Dict. ) — Quantity of matter, in a body, its mass, as determined by its weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity. — Quantity of motion (Mech.), in a body, the relative amount of its motion, as measured by its momentum, varying as the product of mass and velocity. — Known quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are given. — Unknown quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are sought.

QUANTIVALENCE Quan*tiv"a*lence, n. Etym: [L. quantus how much + E. valence.] (Chem.)

Defn: Valence. [Archaic]

QUANTIVALENT Quan*tiv"a*lent, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to quantivalence. [Archaic]

QUANTUM Quan"tum, n.; pl. Quanta. Etym: [L., neuter of quantus how great, how much. See Quantity,]

1. Quantity; amount. "Without authenticating . . . the quantum of the charges." Burke.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A definite portion of a manifoldness, limited by a mark or by a boundary. W. K. Clifford. Quantum meruit ( Etym: [L., as much as he merited] (Law), a count in an action grounded on a promise that the defendant would pay to the plaintiff for his service as much as he should deserve. — Quantum sufficit (, or Quantum suff. Etym: [L., as much suffices] (Med.), a sufficient quantity. — Quantum valebat ( Etym: [L., as much at it was worth] (Law), a count in an action to recover of the defendant, for goods sold, as much as they were worth. Blackstone.

QUAP Quap, v. i.

Defn: To quaver. [Obs.] See Quob.

QUAQUAVERSAL Qua`qua*ver"sal, a. Etym: [L. quaqua wheresoever, whithersoever + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn.]

1. Turning or dipping in any or every direction.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Dipping toward all points of the compass round a center, as beds of lava round a crater.

QUAR Quar, n.

Defn: A quarry. [Prov. Eng.] B. Jonson.

QUARANTINE Quar"an*tine, n. Etym: [F. quarantaine, OF. quaranteine, fr. F. quarante forty, L. quadraginta, akin to quattuor four, and E. four: cf. It. quarantina, quarentine. See Four, and cf. Quadragesima.]

1. A space of forty days; — used of Lent.

2. Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, such restraint or inhibition of intercourse; also, the place where infected or prohibited vessels are stationed.

Note: Quarantine is now applied also to any forced stoppage of travel or communication on account of malignant contagious disease, on land as well as by sea.

3. (Eng. Law)

Defn: The period of forty days during which the widow had the privilege of remaining in the mansion house of which her husband died seized. Quarantine flag, a yellow flag hoisted at the fore of a vessel or hung from a building, to give warning of an infectious disease; — called also the yellow jack, and yellow flag.

QUARANTINE Quar`an*tine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarantined; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarantining.]

Defn: To compel to remain at a distance, or in a given place, without intercourse, when suspected of having contagious disease; to put under, or in, quarantine.

QUARL Quarl, n. Etym: [Cf. G. qualle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A medusa, or jellyfish. [R.] The jellied quarl that flings At once a thousand streaming stings. J. R. Drake.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quadrel, Quarry an arrow, Carrel.]

1. An arrow for a crossbow; — so named because it commonly had a square head. [Obs.] To shoot with arrows and quarrel. Sir J. Mandeville. Two arblasts, . . . with windlaces and quarrels. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: Any small square or quadrangular member; as: (a) A square of glass, esp. when set diagonally. (b) A small opening in window tracery, of which the cusps, etc., make the form nearly square. (c) A square or lozenge-shaped paving tile.

3. A glazier's diamond. Simmonds.

4. A four-sided cutting tool or chisel having a diamond-shaped end.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [OE. querele, OF. querele, F. querelle, fr. L. querela, querella, a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See Querulous.]

1. A breach of concord, amity, or obligation; a falling out; a difference; a disagreement; an antagonism in opinion, feeling, or conduct; esp., an angry dispute, contest, or strife; a brawl; an altercation; as, he had a quarrel with his father about expenses. I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant. Lev. xxvi. 25. On open seas their quarrels they debate. Dryden.

2. Ground of objection, dislike, difference, or hostility; cause of dispute or contest; occasion of altercation. Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him. Mark vi. 19. No man hath any quarrel to me. Shak. He thought he had a good quarrel to attack him. Holinshed.

3. Earnest desire or longing. [Obs.] Holland. To pick a quarrel. See under Pick, v. t.

Syn. — Brawl; broil; squabble; affray; feud; tumult; contest; dispute; altercation; contention; wrangle.

QUARREL Quar"rel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quarreled or Quarrelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarreling or Quarrelling.]

1. To violate concord or agreement; to have a difference; to fall out; to be or become antagonistic. Our people quarrel with obedience. Shak. But some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed. Shak.

2. To dispute angrily, or violently; to wrangle; to scold; to altercate; to contend; to fight. Beasts called sociable quarrel in hunger and lust. Sir W. Temple.

3. To find fault; to cavil; as, to quarrel with one's lot. I will not quarrel with a slight mistake. Roscommon.

QUARREL Quar"rel, v. t.

1. To quarrel with. [R.] "I had quarelled my brother purposely." B. Jonson.

2. To compel by a quarrel; as, to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights.

QUARREL Quar"rel, n. Etym: [Written also quarreller.]

Defn: One who quarrels or wrangles; one who is quarrelsome. Shak.

QUARRELET Quar"rel*et, n.

Defn: A little quarrel. See 1st Quarrel, 2. [Obs.] "Quarrelets of pearl [teeth]." Herrick.

QUARRELING Quar"rel*ing, a.

Defn: Engaged in a quarrel; apt or disposed to quarrel; as, quarreling factions; a quarreling mood. — Quar"rel*ing*ly, adv.

QUARRELLOUS Quar"rel*lous, a. Etym: [OF. querelous, F. querelleux, L. querulosus and querulus, fr. queri to complain. See 2d Quarrel.]

Defn: Quarrelsome. [Obs.] [Written also quarrellous.] Shak.

QUARRELSOME Quar"rel*some, a.

Defn: Apt or disposed to quarrel; given to brawls and contention; easily irritated or provoked to contest; irascible; choleric.

Syn. — Pugnacious; irritable; irascible; brawling; choleric; fiery; petulant. — Quar"rel*some*ly, adv. — Quar"rel*some*ness, n.

QUARRIED Quar"ried, a.

Defn: Provided with prey. Now I am bravely quarried. Beau. & Fl.

QUARRIER Quar"ri*er, n.

Defn: A worker in a stone quarry.

QUARRY Quar"ry, n. Etym: [OE. quarre, OF. quarré square, F. carré, from L. quadratus square, quadrate, quadratum a square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quarrel an arrow.]

Defn: Same as 1st Quarrel. [Obs.] Fairfax.

QUARRY Quar"ry, a. Etym: [OF. quarré.]

Defn: Quadrate; square. [Obs.]

QUARRY Quar"ry, n.; pl. Quarries. Etym: [OE. querre, OF. cuiriée, F. curée, fr. cuir hide, leather, fr. L. corium; the quarry given to the dogs being wrapped in the akin of the beast. See Cuirass.]

1. (a) A part of the entrails of the beast taken, given to the hounds. (b) A heap of game killed.

2. The object of the chase; the animal hunted for; game; especially, the game hunted with hawks. "The stone-dead quarry." Spenser. The wily quarry shunned the shock. Sir W. Scott.

QUARRY Quar"ry, v. i.

Defn: To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy. L'Estrange.

QUARRY Quar"ry, n. Etym: [OE. quarrere, OF. quariere, F. carrière, LL. quadraria a quarry, whence squared (quadrati) stones are dug, fr. quadratus square. See Quadrate.]

Defn: A place, cavern, or pit where stone is taken from the rock or ledge, or dug from the earth, for building or other purposes; a stone pit. See 5th Mine (a).

QUARRY Quar"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarried; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarrying.]

Defn: To dig or take from a quarry; as, to quarry marble.

QUARRY-FACED Quar"ry-faced`, a. (Stone Masonry)

Defn: Having a face left as it comes from the quarry and not smoothed with the chisel or point; — said of stones.

QUARRY-MAN Quar"ry-man, n.; pl. Quarrymen (.

Defn: A man who is engaged in quarrying stones; a quarrier.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [F. quart, n. masc., fr. L. quartus the fourth, akin to quattuor four. See Four, and cf. 2d Carte, Quarto.]

Defn: The fourth part; a quarter; hence, a region of the earth. [Obs.] Camber did possess the western quart. Spenser.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [F. quarte, n. fem., fr. quart fourth. See Quart a quarter.]

1. A measure of capacity, both in dry and in liquid measure; the fourth part of a gallon; the eighth part of a peck; two pints.

Note: In imperial measure, a quart is forty English fluid ounces; in wine measure, it is thirty-two American fluid ounces. The United States dry quart contains 67.20 cubic inches, the fluid quart 57.75. The English quart contains 69.32 cubic inches.

2. A vessel or measure containing a quart.

QUART Quart, n. Etym: [See Quart a quarter.]

Defn: In cards, four successive cards of the same suit. Cf. Tierce, 4. Hoyle.

QUARTAN Quar"tan, a. Etym: [F. quartain, in fièvre quartaine, L. quartanus, fr. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the fourth; occurring every fourth day, reckoning inclusively; as, a quartan ague, or fever.

QUARTAN Quar"tan, n.

1. (Med.)

Defn: An intermittent fever which returns every fourth day, reckoning inclusively, that is, one in which the interval between paroxysms is two days.

2. A measure, the fourth part of some other measure.

QUARTANE Quar"tane, n. Etym: [L. quartus the fourth.] (Chem.)

Defn: Butane, each molecule of which has four carbon atoms.

QUARTATION Quar*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. quartus the fourth: cf. F. quartation. So called because usually enough silver is added to make the amount of gold in the alloyed button about one fourth.] (Chem. & Assaying)

Defn: The act, process, or result (in the process of parting) of alloying a button of nearly pure gold with enough silver to reduce the fineness so as to allow acids to attack and remove all metals except the gold; — called also inquartation. Compare Parting.

QUARTE Quarte, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Same as 2d Carte.

QUARTENE Quar"tene, n. Etym: [Ouartane + ethylene.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Butylene.

QUARTENYLIC Quar"ten*yl"ic, a. Etym: [Quartene + -yl + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the acrylic acid series, metameric with crotonic acid, and obtained as a colorless liquid; — so called from having four carbon atoms in the molecule. Called also isocrotonic acid.

QUARTER Quar"ter, n. Etym: [F. quartier, L. quartarius a fourth part, fr. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

1. One of four equal parts into which anything is divided, or is regarded as divided; a fourth part or portion; as, a quarter of a dollar, of a pound, of a yard, of an hour, etc. Hence, specifically: (a) The fourth of a hundred-weight, being 25 or 28 pounds, according as the hundredweight is reckoned at 100 or 112 pounds. (b) The fourth of a ton in weight, or eight bushels of grain; as, a quarter of wheat; also, the fourth part of a chaldron of coal. Hutton. (c) (Astron.) The fourth part of the moon's period, or monthly revolution; as, the first quarter after the change or full. (d) One limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, including a leg; as, the fore quarters; the hind quarters. (e) That part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from the heel to the vamp. (f) (Far.) That part on either side of a horse's hoof between the toe and heel, being the side of the coffin. (g) A term of study in a seminary, college, etc, etc.; properly, a fourth part of the year, but often longer or shorter. (h) pl. (Mil.)

Defn: The encampment on one of the principal passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and intercept convoys. (i) (Naut.) The after-part of a vessel's side, generally corresponding in extent with the quarter-deck; also, the part of the yardarm outside of the slings. (j) (Her.) One of the divisions of an escutcheon when it is divided into four portions by a horizontal and a perpendicular line meeting in the fess point.

Note: When two coats of arms are united upon one escutcheon, as in case of marriage, the first and fourth quarters display one shield, the second and third the other. See Quarter, v. t., 5. (k) One of the four parts into which the horizon is regarded as divided; a cardinal point; a direction' principal division; a region; a territory. Scouts each coast light-armed scour, Each quarter, to descry the distant foe. Milton.

(l) A division of a town, city, or county; a particular district; a locality; as, the Latin quarter in Paris. (m) (Arch.) A small upright timber post, used in partitions; — in the United States more commonly called stud. (n) (Naut.) The fourth part of the distance from one point of the compass to another, being the fourth part of 11° 15', that is, about 2° 49'; — called also quarter point.

2. Proper station; specific place; assigned position; special location. Swift to their several quarters hasted then The cumbrous elements. Milton. Hence, specifically: (a) (Naut.) A station at which officers and men are posted in battle; — usually in the plural. (b) Place of lodging or temporary residence; shelter; entertainment; — usually in the plural. The banter turned as to what quarters each would find. W. Irving. (c) pl. (Mil.)

Defn: A station or encampment occupied by troops; a place of lodging for soldiers or officers; as, winter quarters. (d) Treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes. He magnified his own clemency, now they were at his mercy, to offer them quarter for their lives. Clarendon. Cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and wolves . . . must never expect better quarter. L'Estrange.

3. Friendship; amity; concord. [Obs.] To keep quarter, to keep one's proper place, and so be on good terms with another. [Obs.] In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom. Shak. I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves. Bacon. False quarter, a cleft in the quarter of a horse's foot. — Fifth quarter, the hide and fat; — a butcher's term. — On the quarter (Naut.), in a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter. — Quarter aspect. (Astrol.) Same as Quadrate. — Quarter back (Football), the player who has position next behind center rush, and receives the ball on the snap back. — Quarter badge (Naut.), an ornament on the side of a vessel near, the stern. Mar. Dict. — Quarter bill (Naut.), a list specifying the different stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of action, and the names of the men assigned to each. — Quarter block (Naut.), a block fitted under the quarters of a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clew lines and sheets are reeved. R. H. Dana, Jr. — Quarter boat (Naut.), a boat hung at a vessel's quarter. — Quarter cloths (Naut.), long pieces of painted canvas, used to cover the quarter netting. — Quarter day, a day regarded as terminating a quarter of the year; hence, one on which any payment, especially rent, becomes due. In matters influenced by United States statutes, quarter days are the first days of January, April, July, and October. In New York and many other places, as between landlord and tenant, they are the first days of May, August, November, and February. The quarter days usually recognized in England are 25th of March (Lady Day), the 24th of June (Midsummer Day), the 29th of September (Michaelmas Day), and the 25th of December (Christmas Day). — Quarter face, in fine arts, portrait painting, etc., a face turned away so that but one quarter is visible. — Quarter gallery (Naut.), a balcony on the quarter of a ship. See Gallery, 4. — Quarter gunner (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the gunner. — Quarter look, a side glance. [Obs.] B. Jonson. — Quarter nettings (Naut.), hammock nettings along the quarter rails. — Quarter note (Mus.), a note equal in duration to half a minim or a fourth of semibreve; a crochet. — Quarter pieces (Naut.), several pieces of timber at the after- part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail. Totten. — Quarter point. (Naut.) See Quarter, n., 1 (n). — Quarter railing, or Quarter rails (Naut.), narrow molded planks reaching from the top of the stern to the gangway, serving as a fence to the quarter-deck. — Quarter sessions (Eng. Law), a general court of criminal jurisdiction held quarterly by the justices of peace in counties and by the recorders in boroughs. — Quarter square (Math.), the fourth part of the square of a number. Tables of quarter squares have been devised to save labor in multiplying numbers. — Quarter turn, Quarter turn belt (Mach.), an arrangement in which a belt transmits motion between two shafts which are at right angles with each other. — Quarter watch (Naut.), a subdivision of the full watch (one fourth of the crew) on a man-of- war. — To give, or show, quarter (Mil.), to accept as prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as a vanquished enemy. — To keep quarter. See Quarter, n., 3.

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quartered; p. pr. & vb. n. Quartering.]

1. To divide into four equal parts.

2. To divide; to separate into parts or regions. Then sailors quartered heaven. Dryden.

3. To furnish with shelter or entertainment; to supply with the means of living for a time; especially, to furnish shelter to; as, to quarter soldiers. They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered. Shak.

4. To furnish as a portion; to allot. [R.] This isle . . . He quarters to his blue-haired deities. Milton.

5. (Her.)

Defn: To arrange (different coats of arms) upon one escutcheon, as when a man inherits from both father and mother the right to bear arms.

Note: When only two coats of arms are so combined they are arranged in four compartments. See Quarter, n., 1 (f).

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. i.

Defn: To lodge; to have a temporary residence.

QUARTER Quar"ter, v. i. Etym: [F. cartayer.]

Defn: To drive a carriage so as to prevent the wheels from going into the ruts, or so that a rut shall be between the wheels. Every creature that met us would rely on us for quartering. De Quincey.

QUARTERAGE Quar"ter*age, n.

Defn: A quarterly allowance.

QUARTER-DECK Quar"ter-deck`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: That part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one.

Note: The quarter-deck is reserved as a promenade for the officers and (in passenger vessels) for the cabin passengers.

QUARTERED Quar"tered, a.

1. Divided into four equal parts or quarters; separated into four parts or regions.

2. Furnished with quarters; provided with shelter or entertainment.

3. Quarter-sawed; — said of timber, commonly oak.

QUARTERFOIL Quar"ter*foil`, n. Etym: [Quarier + foil: cf. F. quatre.] (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental foliation having four lobes, or foils.

QUARTERHUNG Quar"ter*hung`, a. (Ordnance)

Defn: Having trunnions the axes of which lie below the bore; — said of a cannon.

QUARTERING Quar"ter*ing, a.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: Coming from a point well abaft the beam, but not directly astern; — said of waves or any moving object.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: At right angles, as the cranks of a locomotive, which are in planes forming a right angle with each other.

QUARTERING Quar"ter*ing, n.

1. A station. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

2. Assignment of quarters for soldiers; quarters.

3. (Her.) (a) The division of a shield containing different coats of arms into four or more compartments. (b) One of the different coats of arms arranged upon an escutcheon, denoting the descent of the bearer.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: A series of quarters, or small upright posts. See Quarter, n., 1 (m) (Arch.) Gwilt. Quartering block, a block on which the body of a condemned criminal was quartered. Macaulay.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, a.

1. Containing, or consisting of, a fourth part; as, quarterly seasons.

2. Recurring during, or at the end of, each quarter; as, quarterly payments of rent; a quarterly meeting.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, n.; pl. Quarterlies (.

Defn: A periodical work published once a quarter, or four times in a year.

QUARTERLY Quar"ter*ly, adv.

1. By quarters; once in a quarter of a year; as, the returns are made quarterly.

2. (Her.)

Defn: In quarters, or quarterings; as, to bear arms quarterly; in four or more parts; — said of a shield thus divided by lines drawn through it at right angles.

QUARTERMASTER Quar"ter*mas`ter, n. Etym: [Quarter + master: cf. F. quartier- maître.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: An officer whose duty is to provide quarters, provisions, storage, clothing, fuel, stationery, and transportation for a regiment or other body of troops, and superintend the supplies.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A petty officer who attends to the helm, binnacle, signals, and the like, under the direction of the master. Totten. Quartermaster general (Mil.), in the United States a staff officer, who has the rank of brigadier general and is the chief officer in the quartermaster's department; in England, an officer of high rank stationed at the War Office having similar duties; also, a staff officer, usually a general officer, accompanying each complete army in the field. — Quartermaster sergeant. See Sergeant.

QUARTERN Quar"tern, n.Etym: [OE. quarteroun, quartron, F. quarteron, the fourth part of a pound, or of a hundred; cf. L. quartarius a fourth part, quarter of any measure, quartern, gill. See Quarter, and cf. Quarteron, Quadroon.]

1. A quarter. Specifically: (a) The fourth part of a pint; a gill. (b) The fourth part of a peck, or of a stone (14 ibs.).

2. A loaf of bread weighing about four pounds; — called also quartern loaf. Simmonds.

QUARTERON Quar"ter*on, n. Etym: [F. See Quartern.]

Defn: A quarter; esp., a quarter of a pound, or a quarter of a hundred. Piers Plowman.

QUARTERON; QUARTEROON Quar"ter*on, Quar"ter*oon, n.

Defn: A quadroon.

QUARTERPACE Quar"ter*pace`, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A platform of a staircase where the stair turns at a right angle only. See Halfpace.

QUARTER ROUND Quar"ter round`. (Arch.)

Defn: An ovolo.

QUARTER-SAW Quar"ter-saw`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarter-sawed -sawn; p. pr. & vb. n. Quarter-sawing.]

Defn: To saw (a log) into quarters; specif., to saw into quarters and then into boards, as by cutting alternately from each face of a quarter, to secure lumber that will warp relatively little or show the grain advantageously.

QUARTERSTAFF Quar"ter*staff`, n.; pl. Quarterstaves (.

Defn: A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense and offense; — so called because in holding it one hand was placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and the end.

QUARTET; QUARTETTE Quar*tet", Quar*tette", n. Etym: [It. quartetto, dim. of quarto the fourth, a fourth part, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.]

1. (Mus.) (a) A composition in four parts, each performed by a single voice or instrument. (b) The set of four person who perform a piece of music in four parts.

2. (Poet.)

Defn: A stanza of four lines.

QUARTIC Quar"tic, a. Etym: [L.quartus fourth.] (Mach.)

Defn: Of the fourth degree.

QUARTIC Quar"tic, n. (a) (Alg.) A quantic of the fourth degree. See Quantic. (b) (Geom.) A curve or surface whose equation is of the fourth degree in the variables.

QUARTILE Quar"tile, n. Etym: [F.quartile aspect, fr. L. quartus the fourth. See Quart.] (Astrol.)

Defn: Same as Quadrate.

QUARTINE Quar"tine, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quartus the fourth.] (Bot.)

Defn: A supposed fourth integument of an ovule, counting from the outside.

QUARTO Quar"to, a. Etym: [L. in quarto in fourth, from quartus the fourth: cf. F. (in) quarto. See Quart.]

Defn: Having four leaves to the sheet; of the form or size of a quarto.

QUARTO Quar"to, n.; pl. Quartos (.

Defn: Originally, a book of the size of the fourth of sheet of printing paper; a size leaves; in present usage, a book of a square or nearly square form, and usually of large size.

QUARTRIDGE Quar"tridge, n.

Defn: Quarterage. [Obs.]

QUARTZ Quartz, n. Etym: [G. quarz.] (Min.)

Defn: A form of silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurring in hexagonal crystals, which are commonly colorless and transparent, but sometimes also yellow, brown, purple, green, and of other colors; also in cryptocrystalline massive forms varying in color and degree of transparency, being sometimes opaque.

Note: The crystalline varieties include: amethyst, violet; citrine and false topaz, pale yellow; rock crystal, transparent and colorless or nearly so; rose quartz, rosecolored; smoky quartz, smoky brown. The chief crypto-crystalline varieties are: agate, a chalcedony in layers or clouded with different colors, including the onyx and sardonyx; carnelian and sard, red or flesh-colored chalcedony; chalcedony, nearly white, and waxy in luster; chrysoprase, an apple- green chalcedony; flint, hornstone, basanite, or touchstone, brown to black in color and compact in texture; heliotrope, green dotted with red; jasper, opaque, red yellow, or brown, colored by iron or ferruginous clay; prase, translucent and dull leek-green. Quartz is an essential constituent of granite, and abounds in rocks of all ages. It forms the rocks quartzite (quartz rock) and sandstone, and makes most of the sand of the seashore.

QUARTZIFEROUS Quartz*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Quartz + -ferous.] (Min.)

Defn: Consisting chiefly of quartz; containing quartz.

QUARTZITE Quartz"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quartzite.] (Min.)

Defn: Massive quartz occurring as a rock; a metamorphosed sandstone; — called also quartz rock.

QUARTZOID Quartz"oid, n. Etym: [Quartz + -oid.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A form of crystal common with quartz, consisting of two six- sided pyramids, base to base.

QUARTZOSE Quartz"ose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. quartzeux, G. quarzig.] (Min.)

Defn: Containing, or resembling, quartz; partaking of the nature or qualities of quartz.

QUARTZOUS quartz"ous, a. (Min.)

Defn: Quarzose.

QUARTZY Quartz"y, a. (Min.)

Defn: Quartzose.

QUAS Quas, n.

Defn: A kind of beer. Same as Quass.

QUASCHI; QUASJE Quas"chi, Quas"je, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The brown coati. See Coati.

QUASH Quash, n.

Defn: Same as Squash.

QUASH Quash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Quashing.] Etym: [OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. cassare to annihilate, annul, fr. cassus empty, vain, of uncertain origin. The word has been confused with L.quassare to shake, F. casser to break, which is probably of different origin. Cf. Cashier, v. t.] (Law)

Defn: To abate, annul, overthrow, or make void; as, to quash an indictment. Blackstone.

QUASH Quash, v. t. Etym: [OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. quassare to shake, shatter, shiver, v. intens. fr. quatere, quassum, to shake, shatter. Cf. Concussion, Discuss, Rescue, and also Quash to annul.]

1. To beat down, or beat in pieces; to dash forcibly; to crush. The whales Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed, Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed. Waller.

2. To crush; to subdue; to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely; as, to quash a rebellion. Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief. Barrow.

QUASH Quash, v. i.

Defn: To be shaken, or dashed about, with noise.

QUASHEE Quash"ee, n.

Defn: A negro of the West Indies.

QUASI Qua"si. Etym: [L.]

Defn: As if; as though; as it were; in a manner sense or degree; having some resemblance to; qualified; — used as an adjective, or a prefix with a noun or an adjective; as, a quasi contract, an implied contract, an obligation which has arisen from some act, as if from a contract; a quasi corporation, a body that has some, but not all, of the peculiar attributes of a corporation; a quasi argument, that which resembles, or is used as, an argument; quasi historical, apparently historical, seeming to be historical.

QUASI CORPORATION Qua"si cor`po*ra"tion.

Defn: A corporation consisting of a person or body of persons invested with some of the qualities of an artificial person, though not expressly incorporated, esp. the official of certain municipal divisions such as counties, schools districts, and the towns of some States of the United States, certain church officials, as a churchwarden, etc.

QUASIMODO Quas`i*mo"do, n. Etym: [So called from the first words of the Latin introit, quasi modo geniti infantes as newborn babes, 1 Pet. ii. 2.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The first Sunday after Easter; Low Sunday.

QUASS Quass, n. Etym: [Russ. kvas'.]

Defn: A thin, sour beer, made by pouring warm water on rye or barley meal and letting it ferment, — much used by the Russians. [written also quas.]

QUASSATION Quas*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. quassatio, from quassare to shake. See Quash to crush.]

Defn: The act of shaking, or the state of being shaken. Gayton.

QUASSIA Quas"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. From the name of a negro, Quassy, or Quash, who prescribed this article as a specific.]

Defn: The wood of several tropical American trees of the order Simarubeæ, as Quassia amara, Picræna excelsa, and Simaruba amara. It is intensely bitter, and is used in medicine and sometimes as a substitute for hops in making beer.

QUASSIN Quas"sin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quassine. See Quassia.] (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter principle of quassia, extracted as a white crystalline substance; — formerly called quassite. [Written also quassiin, and quassine.]

QUAT Quat, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (a) A pustule. [Obs.] (b) An annoying, worthless person. Shak.

QUAT Quat, v. t.

Defn: To satiate; to satisfy. [Prov. Eng.]

QUATA Qua"ta, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The coaita.

QUATCH Quatch, a.

Defn: Squat; flat. [Obs.] Shak.

QUATER-COUSIN Qua"ter-cous`in, n. Etym: [F. quatre four + cousin, E. cousin.]

Defn: A cousin within the first four degrees of kindred.

QUATERNARY Qua*ter"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. quaternarius consisting of four each, containing four, fr. quaterni four each, fr. quattuor four: cf. F. quaternaire. See Four.]

1. Consisting of four; by fours, or in sets of four.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Later than, or subsequent to, the Tertiary; Post-tertiary; as, the Quaternary age, or Age of man.

QUATERNARY Qua*ter"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. numerus quaternarius: cf. F. quaternaire.]

1. The number four. Boyle.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: The Quaternary age, era, or formation. See the Chart of Geology.

QUATERNATE Qua*ter"nate, a.

Defn: Composed of, or arranged in, sets of four; quaternary; as, quaternate leaves.

QUATERNION Qua*ter"ni*on, n. Etym: [L. quaternio, fr.quaterni four each. See Quaternary.]

1. The number four. [Poetic]

2. A set of four parts, things, or person; four things taken collectively; a group of four words, phrases, circumstances, facts, or the like. Delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers. Acts xii. 4. Ye elements, the eldest birth Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run. Milton. The triads and quaternions with which he loaded his sentences. Sir W. Scott.

3. A word of four syllables; a quadrisyllable.

4. (Math.)

Defn: The quotient of two vectors, or of two directed right lines in space, considered as depending on four geometrical elements, and as expressible by an algebraic symbol of quadrinomial form.

Note: The science or calculus of quaternions is a new mathematical method, in which the conception of a quaternion is unfolded and symbolically expressed, and is applied to various classes of algebraical, geometrical, and physical questions, so as to discover theorems, and to arrive at the solution of problems. Sir W. R. Hamilton.

QUATERNION Qua*ter"ni*on, v. t.

Defn: To divide into quaternions, files, or companies. Milton.

QUATERNITY Qua*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL.quaternitas, fr. L. quaterni four each: cf. F. quaternité.]

1. The number four. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. The union of four in one, as of four persons; — analogous to the theological term trinity.

QUATERON Qua"ter*on, n.

Defn: See 2d Quarteron.

QUATORZAIN Qua*torz"ain, n. Etym: [See Quatorze.]

Defn: A poem of fourteen lines; a sonnet. R. H. Stoddard.

QUATORZE Qua*torze", n. Etym: [F. quatorze fourteen, L. quattuordecim. See Fourteen.]

Defn: The four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens, in the game of piquet; — so called because quatorze counts as fourteen points.

QUATRAIN Quat"rain, n. Etym: [F., fr. quatre four, L. quattuor, quatuor. See Four.] (Pros.)

Defn: A stanza of four lines rhyming alternately. Dryden.

QUATRE Qua"tre, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A card, die. or domino, having four spots, or pips

QUATREFEUILLE; QUATREFOIL Qua"tre*feuille, Qua"tre*foil, n. Etym: [F. quatre feuilles.]

Defn: Same as Quarterfoil.

QUATTROCENTO Quat`tro*cen"to, n. & a. [It., four hundred, used as an abbreviated expression for the dates beginning with fourteen hundred.]

Defn: The fifteenth century, when applied to Italian art or literature; as, the sculpture of the quattrocento; quattrocento style. —Quat`tro*cen"tist (#), n.

QUATUOR Quat"u*or, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. quattuor, quatuor, four. See Quartet.] (Mus.)

Defn: A quartet; — applied chiefly to instrumental compositions.

QUAVE Quave, n.

Defn: See Quaver. [Obs.]

QUAVE Quave, v. i.

Defn: To quaver. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

QUAVEMIRE Quave"mire`, n.

Defn: See Quagmire. [Obs.]

QUAVER Qua"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Quavering.] Etym: [OE. quaven to shake, to tremble; cf. LG. quabbeln to shake, to be soft, of fat substances, quabbe a fat lump of flesh, a dewlap, D. kwabbe, and E. quiver, v.]

1. To tremble; to vibrate; to shake. Sir I. Newton.

2. Especially, to shake the voice; to utter or form sound with rapid or tremulous vibrations, as in singing; also, to trill on a musical instrument

QUAVER Qua"ver, v. t.

Defn: To utter with quavers. We shall hear her quavering them . . . to some sprightly airs of the opera. Addison.

QUAVER Qua"ver, n.

1. A shake, or rapid and tremulous vibration, of the voice, or of an instrument of music.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: An eighth note. See Eighth.

QUAVERER Qua"ver*er, n.

Defn: One who quavers; a warbler.

QUAY Quay, n. Etym: [F. quai. See Key quay.]

Defn: A mole, bank, or wharf, formed toward the sea, or at the side of a harbor, river, or other navigable water, for convenience in loading and unloading vessels. [Written also key.]

QUAY Quay, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with quays.

QUAYAGE Quay"age, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Wharfage. [Also keyage.]

QUAYD Quayd,

Defn: p. p. of Quail. [Obs.] Spenser.

QUE Que, n. Etym: [Cf. 3d Cue.]

Defn: A half farthing. [Obs.]

QUEACH Queach, n. Etym: [Cf. Quick.]

Defn: A thick, bushy plot; a thicket. [Obs.] Chapman.

QUEACH Queach, v. i. Etym: [Cf. E. quich, v. i., quick, v. i.; or AS. cweccan to shake.]

Defn: To stir; to move. See Quick, v. i. [Obs.]

QUEACHY Queach"y, a.

1. Yielding or trembling under the feet, as moist or boggy ground; shaking; moving. "The queachy fens." "Godwin's queachy sands." Drayton.

2. Like a queach; thick; bushy. [Obs.] Cockeram.

QUEAN Quean, n. Etym: [Originally, a woman, AS. cwene; akin to OS. quena, OHG. quena, Icel. kona, Goth qin, and AS. cwén, also to Gr. gna goddess. Cf. Queen.]

1. A woman; a young or unmarried woman; a girl. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.

2. A low woman; a wench; a slut. "The dread of every scolding quean." Gay.

QUEASILY Quea"si*ly, adv.

Defn: In a queasy manner.

QUEASINESS Quea"si*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being queasy; nausea; qualmishness; squeamishness. Shak.

QUEASY Quea"sy, a. Etym: [Icel. kweisa pain; cf. Norw. kveis sickness after a debauch.]

1. Sick at the stomach; affected with nausea; inclined to vomit; qualmish.

2. Fastidious; squeamish; delicate; easily disturbed; unsettled; ticklish. " A queasy question." Shak. Some seek, when queasy conscience has its qualms. Cowper.

QUEBEC GROUP Que*bec" group`. (Geol.)

Defn: The middle of the three groups into which the rocks of the Canadian period have been divided in the American Lower Silurian system. See the Chart of Geology.

QUEBRACHO Que*bra"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Chilian apocynaceous tree (Aspidosperma Quebracho); also, its bark, which is used as a febrifuge, and for dyspnoea of the lung, or bronchial diseases; — called also white quebracho, to distinguish it from the red quebracho, a Mexican anacardiaceous tree (Loxopterygium Lorentzii) whose bark is said to have similar properties. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

QUEBRITH Queb"rith, n. Etym: [OE. quebrit, quibrith, Ar. kibrit.] (Alchemy)

Defn: Sulphur. [Obs.]

QUECH; QUECK Quech, Queck, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Quick, Queach.]

Defn: A word occurring in a corrupt passage of Bacon's Essays, and probably meaning, to stir, to move.

QUEEN Queen, n. Etym: [OE. quen, quene, queen, quean, AS. cwen wife, queen, woman; akin to OS. quan wife, woman, Icel. kvan wife, queen, Goth. qens. sq. root221. See Quean.]

1. The wife of a king.

2. A woman who is the sovereign of a kingdom; a female monarch; as, Elizabeth, queen of England; Mary, queen of Scots. In faith, and by the heaven's quene. Chaucer.

3. A woman eminent in power or attractions; the highest of her kind; as, a queen in society; — also used figuratively of cities, countries, etc. " This queen of cities." " Albion, queen of isles." Cowper.

4. The fertile, or fully developed, female of social bees, ants, and termites.

5 5, (Chess)

Defn: The most powerful, and except the king the most important, piece in a set of chessmen.

6. A playing card bearing the picture of a queen; as, the queen of spades.

Defn: A male homosexual, esp. one who is effeminate or dresses in women's clothing. Sometimes pejorative. Queen apple. Etym: [Cf. OE. quyne aple quince apple.] A kind of apple; a queening. "Queen apples and red cherries." Spenser. — Queen bee (Zoöl.), a female bee, especially the female of the honeybee. See Honeybee. — Queen conch (Zoöl.), a very large West Indian cameo conch (Cassis cameo). It is much used for making cameos. — Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king. Blackstone. — Queen dowager, the widow of a king. — Queen gold, formerly a revenue of the queen consort of England, arising from gifts, fines, etc. — Queen mother, a queen dowager who is also mother of the reigning king or queen. — Queen of May. See May queen, under May. — Queen of the meadow (Bot.), a European herbaceous plant (Spiræa Ulmaria). See Meadowsweet. — Queen of the prairie (Bot.), an American herb (Spiræa lobata) with ample clusters of pale pink flowers. — Queen pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of several species of very large and handsome crested ground pigeons of the genus Goura, native of New Guinea and the adjacent islands. They are mostly pale blue, or ash- blue, marked with white, and have a large occipital crest of spatulate feathers. Called also crowned pigeon, goura, and Victoria pigeon. — Queen regent, or Queen regnant, a queen reigning in her own right. — Queen's Bench. See King's Bench. — Queen's counsel, Queen's evidence. See King's counsel, King's evidence, under King. — Queen's delight (Bot.), an American plant (Stillinqia sylvatica) of the Spurge family, having an herbaceous stem and a perennial woody root. — Queen's metal (Metal.), an alloy somewhat resembling pewter or britannia, and consisting essentially of tin with a slight admixture of antimony, bismuth, and lead or copper. — Queen's pigeon. (Zoöl.) Same as Queen pigeon, above. — Queen's ware, glazed English earthenware of a cream color. — Queen's yellow (Old Chem.), a heavy yellow powder consisting of a basic mercuric sulphate; — formerly called turpetum minerale, or Turbith's mineral.

QUEEN Queen, v. i.

Defn: To act the part of a queen. Shak.

QUEEN Queen, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Queened; p. pr. & vb. n. Queening.] (Chess.)

Defn: To make a queen (or other piece, at the player's discretion) of by moving it to the eighth row; as, to queen a pawn.

QUEENCRAFT Queen"craft`, n.

Defn: Craft or skill in policy on the part of a queen. Elizabeth showed much queencraft in procuring the votes of the nobility. Fuller.

QUEENDOM Queen"dom, n.

Defn: The dominion, condition, or character of a queen. Mrs. Browning.

QUEENFISH Queen"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A California sciænoid food fish (Seriphys politus). The back is bluish, and the sides and belly bright silvery. Called also kingfish.

QUEENHOOD Queen"hood, n.

Defn: The state, personality, or character of a queen; queenliness. Tennyson.

QUEENING Queen"ing, n. Etym: [See Queen apple.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any one of several kinds of apples, as summer queening, scarlet queening, and early queening. An apple called the queening was cultivated in England two hundred years ago.

QUEENLINESS Queen"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being queenly; the; characteristic of a queen; stateliness; eminence among women in attractions or power.

QUEENLY Queen"ly, a. Etym: [AS. cwenlic feminine.]

Defn: Like, becoming, or suitable to, a queen.

QUEEN OLIVE Queen olive. [Cf. Sp. aceituna de la Reina olive of the Queen.] (Olive Trade)

Defn: Properly, a kind of superior olive grown in the region of Seville, Spain. It is large size and oblong shape with a small but long pit; it is cured when green, keeps well, and has a delicate flavor. Loosely, any olive of similar character.

QUEEN-POST Queen"-post`, n. [Arch.]

Defn: One of two suspending posts in a roof truss, or other framed truss of similar form. See King-post.

QUEENSHIP Queen"ship, n.

Defn: The state, rank, or dignity of a queen.

QUEENSLAND NUT Queens"land nut`. (Bot.)

Defn: The nut of an Australian tree (Macadamia ternifolia). It is about an inch in diameter, and contains a single round edible seed, or sometimes two hemispherical seeds. So called from Queensland in Australia.

QUEEN TRUSS Queen" truss. (Arch.)

Defn: A truss framed with queen-posts; a queen-post truss.

QUEER Queer, a. [Compar. Queerer; superl. Queerest.] Etym: [G. quer cross, oblique, athwart (cf. querkopf a queer fellow), OHG. twer, twerh, dwerah; akin to D. dvars, AS, þweorh thwart, bent, twisted, Icel. þverr thwart, transverse, Goth. þwaìrhs angry, and perh. to L. torqyere to twist, and E. through. Cf. Torture, Through, Thwart, a.]

1. At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or act. " A queer look." W. Irving.

2. Mysterious; suspicious; questionable; as, a queer transaction. [Colloq.]

QUEER Queer, n.

Defn: Counterfeit money. [Slang] To shove the queer, to put counterfeit money in circulation. [Slang]

QUEERISH Queer"ish, a.

Defn: Rather queer; somewhat singular.

QUEERLY Queer"ly, adv.

Defn: In a queer or odd manner.

QUEERNESS Queer"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being queer.

QUEEST Queest, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kvisa a kind of bird, kvistr a branch of a tree, and E. cushat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European ringdove (Columba palumbus); the cushat. [Written also quist, queeze, quice, queece.] See Ringdove.

QUEGH Quegh, n.

Defn: A drinking vessel. See Quaich.

QUEINT Queint, a.

Defn: See Quaint. [Obs.]

QUEINT Queint, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Quench. Chaucer.

QUEINTISE Queint"ise, n.

Defn: See Quaintise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

QUELL Quell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quelled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Quelling.] Etym: [See Quail to cower.]

1. To die. [Obs.] Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell. Spenser.

2. To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser.

QUELL Quell, v. t. Etym: [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]

1. To take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] Spenser. The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. Chaucer.

2. To overpower; to subdue; to put down. The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled him to quell the disaffected minority. Macaulay. Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt. Longfellow.

3. To quiet; to allay; to pacify; to cause to yield or cease; as, to quell grief; to quell the tumult of the soul. Much did his words the gentle lady quell. Spenser.

Syn. — to subdue; crush; overpower; reduce; put down; repress; suppress; quiet; allay; calm; pacify.

QUELL Quell, n.

Defn: Murder. [Obs.] Shak.

QUELLER Quell"er, n.

1. A killer; as, Jack the Giant Queller. [Obs.] Wyclif (Mark vi. 27).

2. One who quells; one who overpowers or subdues.

QUELLIO Quel"li*o, n. Etym: [Sp. cuello, L. collum neck.]

Defn: A ruff for the neck. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

QUELQUECHOSE Quelque"chose`, n. Etym: [F. quelque chose something.]

Defn: A trifle; a kickshaw. Donne.

QUEME Queme, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. cweman, akin to cuman to come. sq. root23.]

Defn: To please. [Obs.] Chaucer.

QUEMEFUL Queme"ful, a.

Defn: Kindly; merciful. [Obs.] Wyclif.

QUENCH Quench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Quenching.] Etym: [OE. quenchen, AS. cwencan in acwencan, to extinguish utterly, causative of cwincan, acwincan, to decrease, disappear; cf. AS. cwinan, acwinan, to waste or dwindle away.]

1. To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; — said of flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to quench a candle; to quench thirst, love, hate, etc. Ere our blood shall quench that fire. Shak. The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the wonder of her infamy. Shak.

2. To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.

Syn. — To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.

QUENCH Quench, v. i.

Defn: To become extinguished; to go out; to become calm or cool. [R.] Dost thou think in time She will not quench! Shak.

QUENCHABLE Quench"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being quenched.

QUENCHER Quench"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, quenches. Hammond.

QUENCHLESS Quench"less, a.

Defn: Incapable of being quenched; inextinguishable; as, quenchless fire or fury. "Once kindled, quenchless evermore." Byron.

Syn. — Inextinguishable; unquenchable. — Quench"less*ly, adv. — Quench"less*ness, n.

QUENELLE Que*nelle", n. Etym: [F.] (Cookery)

Defn: A kind of delicate forcemeat, commonly poached and used as a dish by itself or for garnishing.

QUENOUILLE TRAINING Que*nouille train"ing. Etym: [F. quenouille distaff.] (Hort.)

Defn: A method of training trees or shrubs in the shape of a cone or distaff by tying down the branches and pruning.

QUERCITANNIC Quer`ci*tan"nic, a. Etym: [L. quercus an oak + E. tannic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a tannic acid found in oak bark and extracted as a yellowish brown amorphous substance.

QUERCITE Quer"cite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance, C6H7(OH)5, found in acorns, the fruit of the oak (Quercus). It has a sweet taste, and is regarded as a pentacid alcohol.

QUERCITIN Quer"ci*tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, occurring quite widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom, as is apple-tree bark, horse- chestnut leaves, etc., but originally obtained by the decomposition of quercitrin. Called also meletin.

QUERCITRIN Quer"cit*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. quercitrin. See Quercitron.] (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside extracted from the bark of the oak (Quercus) as a bitter citron-yellow crystalline substance, used as a pigment and called quercitron.

QUERCITRON Quer"cit*ron, n. Etym: [F. quercitron, the name of the name of tree; L. quercus an oak + citrus the citron tree.]

1. The yellow inner bark of the Quercus tinctoria, the American black oak, yellow oak, dyer's oak, or quercitron oak, a large forest tree growing from Maine to eastern Texas.

2. Quercitrin, used as a pigment. See Quercitrin.

QUERCUS Quer"cus, n. Etym: [L., an oak.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees constituted by the oak. See Oak.

QUERELE Quer"ele, n. Etym: [See 2d Quarrel.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A complaint to a court. See Audita Querela. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

QUERENT Que"rent, n. Etym: [L. querens, p. pr. of queri to complain.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A complainant; a plaintiff.

QUERENT Que"rent, n. Etym: [L. quaerens, p. pr. of quaerere to search for, to inquire.]

Defn: An inquirer. [Obs.] Aubrey.

QUERIMONIOUS Quer`i*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. querimonia a complaint, fr. queri to complain. See Querulous.]

Defn: Complaining; querulous; apt to complain. — Quer`i*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv. — Quer`i*mo"ni*ous*ness, n.

QUERIMONY Quer"i*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. querimonia.]

Defn: A complaint or complaining. [Obs.] E. Hall.

QUERIST Que"rist, n. Etym: [See Query.]

Defn: One who inquires, or asks questions. Swift.

QUERKEN Querk"en, v. t. Etym: [Icel. kverk throat.

Defn: To stifle or choke. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

QUERL Querl, v. t. Etym: [G. querlen, quirlen, to twirl, to turn round, fr. querl, querl, a twirling stick. Cf. Twirl.]

Defn: To twirl; to turn or wind round; to coil; as, to querl a cord, thread, or rope. [Local, U.S.]

QUERL Querl, n.

Defn: A coil; a twirl; as, the qwerl of hair on the fore leg of a blooded horse. [Local, U. S.]

QUERN Quern, n. Etym: [AS. cweorn, cwyrn; akin to D. kweern, OHG. quirn, Icel. kvern, Sw. qvarn, Dan. quærn, Goth. qairnus (in asiluqaírnus), Lith. qìrnos, and perh. E. corn.]

Defn: A mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which was turned by hand; — used before the invention of windmills and watermills. Shak. They made him at the querne grind. Chaucer.

QUERPO Quer"po, n.

Defn: The inner or body garments taken together. See Cuerpo. Dryden.

QUERQUEDULE Quer"que*dule, n. Etym: [L. querquedula.] (Zool.) (a) A teal. (b) The pintail duck.

QUERRY Quer"ry, n.

Defn: A groom; an equerry. [Obs.]

QUERULENTIAL Quer`u*len"tial, a.

Defn: Querulous. [R.]

QUERULOUS Quer"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. querulus and querulosus, fr. queri to complain. Cf. Cry, v., Quarrel a brawl, Quarrelous.]

1. Given to quarreling; quarrelsome. [Obs.] land.

2. Apt to find fault; habitually complaining; disposed to murmur; as, a querulous man or people. Enmity can hardly be more annoying that querulous, jealous, exacting fondness. Macaulay.

3. Expressing complaint; fretful; whining; as, a querulous tone of voice.

Syn. — Complaining; bewailing; lamenting; whining; mourning; murmuring; discontented; dissatisfied. — Quer"u*lous*ly, adv. — Quer"u*lous*ness, n.

QUERY Que"ry, n.; pl. Queries. Etym: [L. quaere, imperative sing. of quaerere, quaesitum to seek or search for, to ask, inquire. Cf. Acquire, Conquer, Exquisite, Quest, Require.]

1. A question; an inquiry to be answered or solved. I shall conclude with proposing only some queries, in order to a . . . search to be made by others. Sir I. Newton.

2. A question in the mind; a doubt; as, I have a query about his sincerity.

3. An interrogation point [] as the sign of a question or a doubt.

QUERY Que"ry, v. i.

1. To ask questions; to make inquiry. Each prompt to query, answer, and debate. Pope.

2. To have a doubt; as, I query if he is right.

QUERY Que"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Queried; p. pr. & vb. n. Querying.]

1. To put questions about; to elicit by questioning; to inquire into; as, to query the items or the amount; to query the motive or the fact.

2. To address questions to; to examine by questions.

3. To doubt of; to regard with incredulity.

4. To write " query" (qu., qy., or ) against, as a doubtful spelling, or sense, in a proof. See Quære.

QUESAL Que*sal", n (Zoöl.)

Defn: The long-tailed, or resplendent, trogon (Pharomachus mocinno, formerly Trogon resplendens), native of Southern Mexico and Central America. Called alsoquetzal, and golden trogon.

Note: The male is remarkable for the brilliant metallic green and gold colors of his plumage, and for his extremely long plumes, which often exceed three feet in length.

QUEST Quest, n. Etym: [OF. queste, F. quête, fr. L. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, to ask. Cf. Query, Question.]