Wiktionary

quiet

See also: qui et

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English quiete, from Old French quiet (adjective) and quiete (noun), from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (“to keep quiet, rest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“rest”). Doublet of coy, quit, and quietus.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

quiet (comparative quieter or more quiet, superlative quietest or most quiet)

  1. With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.
    I can't hear the music; it is too quiet.
  2. Having little motion or activity; calm.
    the sea was quiet
    a quiet night at home
    all quiet on the Western front
  3. Not busy, of low quantity.
    The traffic was quiet for a Monday morning.
    Business was quiet for the season.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 8, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
      It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.
  4. Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
    He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.
  5. Not showy; undemonstrative.
    a quiet dress
    quiet colours
    a quiet movement
  6. (software) Requiring little or no interaction.
    a quiet install

Quotations edit

Synonyms edit

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb edit

quiet (third-person singular simple present quiets, present participle quieting, simple past and past participle quieted)

  1. (transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.
    Synonyms: quiet down, quieten
    Can you quiet your child? He’s making lots of noise.
    The umpire quieted the crowd so the game could continue in peace.
  2. (intransitive) To become quiet or calm.
    Synonyms: quiet down, quieten
    When you quiet, we can start talking.

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun edit

quiet (plural quiets)

  1. The absence of sound; quietness.
    There was a strange quiet in the normally very lively plaza.
    We need a bit of quiet before we can start the show.
  2. The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.
  3. The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.
    • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act III:
      The King & his Nobles thinke they may ſleepe in quiet,
      Now they haue giuen vs a little holy water at the Court,
      But thers no ſuch matter, we be no ſuch fooles,
      To be bobd out with words and after come to hanging: […]

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Interjection edit

quiet

  1. Be quiet.
    Quiet! The children are sleeping.

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Catalan edit

Etymology edit

First attested in 1490.. Borrowed from Latin quiētus; compare also the Old Catalan form quet, queda, which was likely inherited.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

quiet (feminine quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietes)

  1. calm, stopped
  2. quiet

Synonyms edit

Related terms edit

Copallén edit

Noun edit

quiet

  1. water

References edit

  • Willem F. H. Adelaar, The Languages of the Andes

French edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Old French quiete (13th c.), borrowed from Latin quiētus. The masculine quiet is a Middle French backformation. Doublet of inherited coi and the earlier borrowing quitte.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

quiet (feminine quiète, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quiètes)

  1. (rare, literary) tranquil, peaceful, placid
    Synonyms: see calme
    • 1921, Marcel Proust, Le Côté de Guermantes, section II:
      Alors en regardant, en écoutant Mme de Guermantes, je voyais, prisonnier dans la perpétuelle et quiète après-midi de ses yeux, un ciel d’Ile-de-France ou de Champagne se tendre […] .
      So when I watched and listened to Mme de Guermantes, I saw, a prisoner in the perpetual and placid afternoon of her eyes, an Ile-de-France or Champagne sky stretching out…

Usage notes edit

  • Its antonym inquiet is much more common.

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Occitan edit

Etymology edit

From Latin quiētus.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

quiet m (feminine singular quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietas)

  1. calm, stopped
  2. quiet

Synonyms edit

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