quaintness

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English quaint

Proto-Germanic *-in-

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti

Proto-Germanic *-ōną

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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkweɪntnəs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

quaintness (countable and uncountable, plural quaintnesses)

1. (obsolete) Cunning; craftiness.
2. (obsolete) Skill, artfulness.
3. (obsolete) Primness, fastidiousness, preciousness.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 10, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     As for good Terence, I allow the quaintnesse [translating mignardise] and grace of his Latine tongue, and judge him wonderfull conceited and apt […].

4. The state or fact of being quaint; having old-fashioned charm.