Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An initial and medial sequence in words of Latin origin, as in quarrel, quarrel, quadrant, query, etc.
  • noun An initial sequence in some words of Anglo-Saxon (or other Teutonic) origin, properly written kw-, or as originally cw-, but altered in the Middle English period to qu- in conformity with the spelling of French and Latin words with qu- (see 1). It occurs in quail, quake, qualm, queen, quell, quick, etc. It does not occur medially except in composition.
  • noun An initial sequence in some Middle English or modern dialectal (Scotch) variants of words regularly spelled with wh-, as in qual, qwaylle, quhal, for whale; quhilk for whilk (which), quhyp for whip, etc.
  • noun An initial sequence of various origin other than the above, as in quaint, quassia, quay, quince, quip, quire, quire, quiver, quoin, quoit, etc. See the etymology of these words.
  • noun An obsolete spelling of queue or cue.
  • An abbreviation of quarter.
  • noun An abbreviation: of queen, quarterly
  • noun of question, or quære, query.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word qu.

Examples

  • Lors un lourdaiU qui servoit a la table, nous voyant en si grand debat, se va mocquer de nous, de ce qu* estions empeschez en si pen de chose, SC Jious va dire, que les Espagnols faisoient leurs pains plus grands qu 'ailleurs, parce qu' ils y mettoient plus de paste, *

    Illustrations of Sterne, with other essays and verses 1812

  • Our Chapter of qu is giving the membership its choice to pick what it chooses to do.

    Quail Unlimited Implodes 2009

  • Our Chapter of qu is giving the membership its choice to pick what it chooses to do.

    Quail Unlimited Implodes 2009

  • J'ai hérité de quelques recettes mais je n'ai plus les légumes du jardin qu'entretenait mon beau-père, mûris tranquillement au bas du village puis cueillis et consommées dans la même journée ....

    Lettres de ma Terrasse 2009

  • Il est certain qu'elle a choisi la profession parfaite!

    rubrique - French Word-A-Day 2009

  • J'ai hérité de quelques recettes mais je n'ai plus les légumes du jardin qu'entretenait mon beau-père, mûris tranquillement au bas du village puis cueillis et consommées dans la même journée ....

    Tante Marie-Francoise 2009

  • On fait rougir la pointe d'une épingle; on l'enfonce dans un petit morceau d'indigo afin qu'il puisse s'y attacher.

    The Creation of Color in Eighteenth-Century Europe 2006

  • But the “Gens æterna in quâ nemo nascitur” (Pliny v. 17) managed to appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, Dervishes, Súfis, etc.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • L'homme sait enfin qu'il est seul dans l'immensité indifférente de l'univers d'où il a émergé par hasard.

    French Word-A-Day: 2004

  • L'homme sait enfin qu'il est seul dans l'immensité indifférente de l'univers d'où il a émergé par hasard.

    ténébreux - French Word-A-Day 2004

  • Wang’s biggest takeaway was the importance, during the quarantine in Wuhan, of the xiao qu, or the hyper-local groups that exist all over the city. Once the virus hit, these groups, run by volunteers, were transformed into networks that could help isolated residents secure food, medicine, and other supplies.

    The Underground Efforts to Get Masks to Doctors Condé Nast 2020

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.