quaint
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Old French cointe and queinte (“‘pretty", "clever", "knowing’”) < Latin cognitus, past participle of cognoscere (“‘to know’”)
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
quaint (comparative quainter, superlative quaintest)
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Positive |
- Having old-fashioned charm.
- It's a very quaint village with old-fashioned storefronts.
- Strange or odd in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way.
- came forth a quaint and fearful sight - Sir Walter Scott
- Highly incongruous, inappropriate, or illogical; naive, unreasonable -- usually used ironically.
- of a quaint sense of honesty - Paul Engle
- (obsolete) Characterized by cleverness or ingenuity; skillfully wrought or artfully contrived.
- to show how quaint an orator you are - Shakespeare
- (obsolete) Overly discriminating or needlessly meticulous; fastidious.
- being too quaint and finical in his expression - Roger L'Estrange
[edit] Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:fastidious
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
old-fashioned charm
interestingly strange
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cleverness or ingenuity
fastidious