quoy
English
editEtymology
editFrom the Norn reflex of Old Norse kví (“enclosure”).
Noun
editquoy (plural quoys)
French
editPronoun
editquoy
Middle French
editAlternative forms
editPronoun
editquoy
- what
- 1602, Laurent de Paris, Le palais d'amour divin de Jésus, et de l'âme chrestienne ou toute personne tant religieuse que séculière peut apprendre à aymer Dieu en Dieu, page 9:
- A quoy pensez vous ?
- What are you thinking about?
- (interjective) what? (indicates surprise or anger)
Usage notes
edit- Like modern French quoi, chiefly used after prepositions such as à, de, comme, etc.
References
edit- quoi on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500) (in French)