quaintness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈkweɪntnəs/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree English quaint Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English quaintness From quaint + -ness.
Meanings
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Cunning; craftiness.
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Skill, artfulness.
-
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Primness, fastidiousness, preciousness.
As for good Terence, I allow the quaintnesse [translating mignardise] and grace of his Latine tongue, and judge him wonderfull conceited and apt[…].
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 10, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
- (countable, uncountable) The state or fact of being quaint; having old-fashioned charm.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| quaintnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |