quaint´ness

quaint´ness
quaint «kwaynt», adjective.
1. a) strange or odd in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: »

Old photographs seem quaint to us today.

b) old-fashioned but picturesque or attractive: »

a quaint old house.

2. Obsolete. wise; skilled; clever: »

to show how quaint an orator you are (Shakespeare).

3. Obsolete. skillfully made; pretty; elegant; fine: »

I never saw a better-fashion'd gown, More quaint, more pleasing (Shakespeare).

4. Obsolete. strange; odd; singular: »

In his wizard habit strange, Came forth,—a quaint and fearful sight (Scott).

╂[< Old French cointe, and queinte pretty, clever, knowing < Latin cognitus known, past participle of cognōscere to know]
–quaint´ly, adverb.
–quaint´ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • quaint´ly — quaint «kwaynt», adjective. 1. a) strange or odd in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: »Old photographs seem quaint to us today. b) old fashioned but picturesque or attractive: »a quaint old house. 2. Obsolete. wise; skilled; clever …   Useful english dictionary

  • quaint — ac·quaint·ance; ac·quaint·ance·ship; quaint·ish; quaint·ly; quaint·ness; ac·quaint; quaint; un·ac·quaint·ed·ness; …   English syllables

  • quaint — [[t]kweɪnt[/t]] adj. er, est 1) having an old fashioned charm; oddly picturesque: a quaint old house[/ex] 2) peculiar or unusual in an interesting or amusing way: a quaint sense of humor[/ex] 3) skillfully or cleverly made 4) Obs. wise; skilled • …   From formal English to slang

  • un´ac|quaint´ed|ness — un|ac|quaint|ed «UHN uh KWAYN tihd», adjective. not acquainted. –un´ac|quaint´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|ac|quaint|ed — «UHN uh KWAYN tihd», adjective. not acquainted. –un´ac|quaint´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • droll´ness — droll «drohl», adjective, noun, verb. –adj. odd and amusing; quaint and laughable: »We smiled at the monkey s droll tricks. SYNONYM(S): comical. –n. a funny person; jester; buffoon. –v.i. to joke; jest. ╂[< French drôle ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • fan´ci|ful|ness — fan|ci|ful «FAN sih fuhl», adjective. 1. showing fancy; quaint; odd; fantastic: »Fanciful decorations are made up, not patterned after something. SYNONYM(S): curious. 2. led by fancy; using fancies; imaginative: »Hans Christian Andersen was a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • kook´i|ness — kook|y or kook|ie «KOO kee», adjective, kook|i|er, kook|i|est. Slang. 1. odd or silly: »kooky little polo neck sweater dresses. SYNONYM(S) …   Useful english dictionary

  • pic´tur|esque´ness — pic|tur|esque «PIHK chuh REHSK», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. quaint or interesting enough to be used as the subject of a picture: »a picturesque old mill. An experienced, industrious, ambitious, and often quite picturesque liar (Mark Twain). 2.… …   Useful english dictionary

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