▪ I. † quaint, n.1 Obs. rare.
Also 4 queynt(e.
[? f. the adj.]
(See quot. 1598.)
| c 1320 Sir Tristr. 2254 Hir queynt abouen hir kne Naked þe kniȝtes knewe. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 90 Pryvely he caught hir by the queynte. 1598 Florio, Becchina, a womans quaint or priuities. |
▪ II. quaint, n.2
[f. the adj.]
An odd, unusual, or strange person.
| 1939 J. Cary Mr. Johnson 112 ‘He's a comic, isn't he?’ ‘A perfect quaint.’ 1959 B. W. Aldiss Canopy of Time 164 What's it matter what a broken-down quaint like Stayker said or didn't say? |
▪ III. quaint, a. (adv.)
(kweɪnt)
Forms: α. 3–4 cointe, (3 kointe, 4 coint(t, coynte, koynt(e), quoynte, (3 cwointe, 4 quointe, quoynt), 4–5 coynt, quynte, (4 quinte, 6 quyent). β. 3–6 queynte, (4 qweynt(e), 4–6 queynt, queinte, 4–8 queint, 6 quent, qwent; 4–5 quaynt, (4 qwaynt, qwaint), quante, (5 qwantte), 4–6 quaynte, (5 qwaynte), quainte, 4– quaint. γ. 4–5 waynt, 5 wheynte, quhaynte, whaynt(e; dial. 7 wheint, 8–9 whaint, whent, 9 wheant.
[a. OF. cointe (quointe, cuinte, etc.), queinte:—L. cognitum known, pa. pple. of cognoscĕre to ascertain. The development of the main senses took place in OF., and is not free from obscurity (cf., however, couth and known).
In its older senses the Eng. word seems to have been in ordinary use down to the 17th c., though in many 16–17th c. examples the exact meaning is difficult to determine. After 1700 it occurs more sparingly (chiefly in sense 6), until its revival in sense 8, which is very frequent after 1800.]
A. adj. I. † 1. Of persons: Wise, knowing; skilled, clever, ingenious. In later use chiefly with ref. to the employment of fine language (cf. sense 6). Obs.
| a 1250 Leg. Kath. 580 (Cott. MS.) Hei! hwuch wis read Of se cointe [v.r. icudd] keiser. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 381/165 Þe beste Carpenter And þe quoynteste þat ich euere i-knev. a 1325 Prose Psalter cxviii. 98 Thou madest me quainte [L. prudentem] vp myn enemis to þi comaundement. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1531 Wise wrightis to wale..qwaint men of wit. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. i. lxv, Ȝit clerkis bene in subtell wordis quent, And in the deid als schairp as ony snaillis. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 274 To shew how queint an Orator you are. 1596 ― Tam. Shr. iii. ii. 149 Wee'll ouerreach..The quaint Musician. a 1628 Preston New Covt. (1634) 273 If you would preach as other men do, and be curious and quaint of Oratory. 1697 Dryden æneid xi. 698 Talk on ye quaint Haranguers of the Crowd. 1728 Morgan Algiers I. vi. 176 The Arabs in general are quaint, bold, hospitable, and generous, excessive Lovers of Eloquence and Poesy. |
† b. In bad sense: Cunning, crafty, given to scheming or plotting. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 328 Þeos kointe harloz þet scheaweð forð hore gutefestre. c 1340 Cursor M. 739 (Fairf.) Þe nedder þat ys so quaynt of gyle. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 482 ‘Dere broþer’ quaþ Peres ‘þe devell is ful queynte’. 1402 Hoccleve Letter of Cupid 152 Sly, queynt, and fals in al vnthrift coupable. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. i. 59 Knaw ȝe nocht bettir the quent Vlexes slycht? 1674–91 Ray N.-C. Words (E.D.S.), ‘A wheint lad’, q. queint; a find lad: ironice dictum. Also, cunning, subtle. 1680 Otway Orphan iii. iv. 864 The quaint smooth Rogue, that sins against his Reason. |
2. Of actions, schemes, devices, etc.: Marked by ingenuity, cleverness, or cunning. Now arch.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 294 Ure Louerd..brouhte so to grunde his kointe kuluertschipe. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 4447 (Kölbing) Morgein..þat wiþ hir queint gin Bigiled þe gode clerk Merlin. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 429 Iosephus..fonde up a queynte craft, and heng wete cloþes uppon þe toun walles. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 593 This was a qwantte gawde, and a far cast, It was a hee frawde. 1522 World & Child in Hazl. Dodsley I. 245, I can many a quaint game. 1598 Rowlands Betray. Christ 10 When traitor meets, these quaint deceits he had. 1641 Brome Jovial Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 378, I..over-heard you in your queint designe, to new create your selves. 1742 W. Shenstone Schoolmistress xii, With quaint arts the giddy crowd she sways. 1889 ‘Mark Twain’ Yankee iv. 37 This quaint lie was most simply and beautifully told. 1970 C. Hampton Philanthropist i. 13 John puts the revolver into his mouth and presses the trigger. Loud explosion. By some quaint device, gobs of brain and bright blood appear on the whitewashed wall. |
† 3. Of things: Ingeniously or cunningly designed or contrived; made with skill or art; elaborate. Obs.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 88/62 He liet heom makien a quoynte schip. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1555 Hii ȝeue him an quointe [v.r. koynte] drench, mid childe vor to be. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 835 And evermo..This queynte hous aboute wente, That never-mo hit stille stente. a 1400–50 Alexander 4275 Have we no cures of courte ne na cointe sewes. 1627 Drayton Nymphidia lxix, He told the arming of each joint, In every piece how neat and quaint. 1631 Shirley Traitor iv. ii, Who knows But he may marry her, and discharge his Duchess With a quaint salad? |
† 4. Of things: Skilfully made, so as to have a good appearance; hence, beautiful, pretty, fine, dainty. Obs.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1382 With koynt carneles aboue, coruen ful clene. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 877 Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, þat koynt wer boþe. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 98 A sylvre nedle forth I droughe, Out of an aguler queynt ynoughe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 777 An ymage full nobill..þat qwaint was & qwem, all of white siluer. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. x. 22 Nor hart could wish for any queint device, But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice. 1671 Milton Samson 1303 In his hand A Scepter or quaint staff he bears. |
† b. Of dress: Fine, fashionable, elegant. Obs.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 65 The ground..maketh so queynt his robe and fayr That it hath hewes an hundred payr. 1380 Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.) 1221 Ne worschipe not men for here fayre cloþes, ne for here qweynte schappis þat sum men usen. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. i. xlvi, In vestures quent of mony sindrie gyse. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 223 Costly attire, curious and quaint apparell is the spur that prickes them forward. 1627 Fletcher Locusts i. xiii, All lovely drest In beauties livery, and quaint devise. |
† 5. Of persons: Beautiful or handsome in appearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, foppish. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28015 Yee leuedis..studis..hu to mak yow semle and quaint. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 26 Coynte ase columbine, such hire cunde ys. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 14 A wommon wonderliche clothed..Ther nis no qweene qweyntore. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 40 Folke shulde not have thaire herte on the worlde, nor make hem queint, to plese it. 1590 Greene Never Too Late Wks. 1882 VIII. 82 He made himselfe as neate and quaint as might be. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. vi. 41 Quaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab'd. 1610 ― Temp. i. ii. 317 Fine apparision: my queint Ariel, Hearke in thine eare. 1784 Cowper Task ii. 461 A body so fantastic, trim, And queint in its deportment and attire. |
† 6. Of speech, language, modes of expression, etc.: Carefully or ingeniously elaborated; highly elegant or refined; clever, smart; full of fancies or conceits; affected. Obs. (now merged in 8).
| 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 346 To hir he spac..Wiþ a wel queynt steuen. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 199 We semen wonder wise, Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte. 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 255 The quent and curious castis poeticall. c 1570 Pride & Lowl. (1841) 807 Pleasaunt songes..To queynt and hard for me to understand. 1655 E. Terry Voy. E. Ind. XII. 232 The Persian there is spoken as their more quaint and Court-tongue. 1676 Marvell Mr. Smirke K iv, A good life is a Clergy man's best Syllogism, and the quaintest Oratory. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 450 ¶1 A new Thought or Conceit dressed up in smooth quaint Language. 1783 Burke Rep. Aff. India Wks. 1842 II. 76 A style,..full of quaint terms and idiomatick phrases, which strongly bespeak English habits in the way of thinking. |
† 7. Strange, unusual, unfamiliar, odd, curious (in character or appearance). Obs. (now merged in 8).
| 13.. Coer de L. 216 Thou schalt se a queynte brayd. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 1330 This is so queynt a sweuyn. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7715 There come with this kyng a coynt mon of shappe. c 1440 Ipomydon 1637 Right vnsemely on queynte manere He hym dight. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. Prol. 12 Now moist I write..Wyld auentouris, monstreis and qwent affrayis. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Oct. 114 With queint Bellona in her equipage. 1629 Milton Nativity 194 A drear, and dying sound Affrights the Flamins at their service quaint. 1714 Pope Wife of Bath 259 How quaint an appetite in woman reigns! Free gifts we scorn, and love what costs us pains. 1808 Scott Marm. iii. xx, Came forth—a quaint and fearful sight. |
8. Unusual or uncommon in character or appearance, but at the same time having some attractive or agreeable feature, esp., having an old-fashioned prettiness or daintiness.
| 1795 Southey Joan of Arc viii. 234 He for the wintry hour Knew many a merry ballad and quaint tale. 1808 Scott Marm. ii. iii, For this, with carving rare and quaint, She decked the chapel of the saint. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 91 The streaks of light and shadow thrown among the quaint articles of furniture. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. x. 202 The device is full of a quaint humour which marks its antiquity. 1884 J. T. Bent in Macm. Mag. Oct. 434/2 The herdsmen were much quainter and more entertaining than our city-born muleteers. |
b. Of furniture: designed in the style of art nouveau.
| 1897 Furnit. & Decoration XXXIV. 197/1 That new style called ‘Quaint’, which seems to be carcase without the spirit of the new style promulgated by the Arts and Crafts and other societies. 1952 J. Gloag Short Dict. Furnit. 377 A fashion in furniture design, corresponding with the New Art movement at the end of the 19th and the opening of the present century, was known as the quaint style. 1975 Country Life 2 Oct. 852/3 The spindly chairs and tables of the ‘quaint’ vogue. |
II. † 9. Proud, haughty. Obs. rare.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 140 Þet fleshs is her et home..ant for þui hit is cwointe & cwiuer. 1340 Ayenb. 89 Þo þet makeþ ham zuo quaynte of þe ilke poure noblesse þet hi habbeþ of hare moder þe erþe. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. cvii. 115, I hatte orgoill, the queynte [F. la bobanciere], the feerce hornede beste. [1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. ii. liv, Queint Pride Hath taught her sonnes to wound their mother's side.] |
† 10. Dainty, fastidious, nice; prim. Obs.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 128 b/1 She chastyssed them that were nyce and queynte. 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 73 The rest in a manner ar..overstale for so queynte and queasye a worlde. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. vii. 10 She nothing quaint Nor 'sdeignfull of so homely fashion. 1640 Brome Sparagus Gard. iii. vii. Wks. 1873 III. 167 Your new infusion of pure blood, by your queint feeding on delicate meates and drinks. 1678 R. L'Estrange Seneca's Mor. To Rdr., Fabius..taxes him..for being too Queint and Finical in his Expressions. |
† 11. to make it quaint, to act quaintly, in various senses, esp. to behave proudly, disdainfully, or deceitfully. Obs.
| c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 531 Lo! how goodly spak this knight..He made hyt nouther tough ne queynte. 1390 Gower Conf. v. 4623 (II. 282) O traiteresse..Thou hast gret peine wel deserved, That thou canst maken it so queinte. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2038, I..kneled doun with hondis Ioynt, And made it in my port ful queynt. c 1422 Hoccleve Jonathas 642 He thoghte not to make it qweynte and tow. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. cvi. (1869) 115 With alle myne joyntes stiryinge and with alle my sinewes j make it queynte [F. je marche si fierement.] |
† B. adv. Skilfully, cunningly. Obs. rare.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 5511 (Fairf.) Ȝou be-houys to wirke ful quaynte and in þaire dedis ham attaynt. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame i. 245 What shulde I speke more queynte, Or peyne me my wordes peynte? 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 180 Fresche flora spred furth hir tapestrie, Wrocht be dame Nature quent and curiouslie. |
C. Comb., as quaint-carved, quaint-eyed, quaint-felt, quaint-looking, quaint-mouthed, quaint-shaped, quaint-sounding, quaint-stomached, quaint-witty, quaint-worded adjs.
| 1575 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 91 Thou arte so queyntefelt In thy rondelett. 1598 Marston Pygmal. i. 140 Like no quaint stomack't man [he] Eates vp his armes. 1603 Florio Montaigne i. xxxvi. (1632) 115 A quaint-wittie, and loftie conceit. 1744 Akenside Pleas. Imag. iii. 250 Where'er the pow'r of ridicule displays Her quaint-ey'd visage. 1838 J. R. Lowell Class Poem ix. 11 What quaint-mouthed sentences! and how profound! 1853 James Agnes Sorel (1860) I. 2 This tall quaint-shaped window. 1859 J. G. Whittier On Prayer Bk. in Independent (N.Y.) 15 Sept. 1/1 The quaint-carved, Gothic door. 1863 Grosart Small Sins (ed. 2) 17 Their quaint-worded dispositions and distinctions. 1922 R. Leighton Compl. Bk. Dog xii. 178 Most people are well acquainted with the personal appearance of this quaint-looking dog. 1957 A. N. Prior Time & Modality 55 ‘The True’ and ‘The False’ are certainly quaint-sounding objects to be named by phrases like ‘The conquest of Gaul by Caesar’. |
▪ IV. quaint, v.1 Obs. exc. dial.
Also 4 coynt, 4–6 quaynt.
[See acquaint v., and cf. OF. cointier in Godef.]
= To acquaint, in various uses.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 5707 (Gött.) Quen þai war quaintid..Þis moyses and sir Raguell [etc.]. c 1330 [see acquaint v. 3]. c 1350 Will. Palerne 4644 He coynted him queyntli with þo tvo ladies. a 1400–50 Alexander 213 Now sall ȝe here How he..quayntid him with ladis. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 81 Spede your pace, To quaynt your selfe and company with grace. 1591 Nashe Prognost. 1 To quaint my selfe with the art of Nauigation. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xv. xciv. (1612) 378 God quaints not with Baal. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Quaint, to acquaint, inform. |
Hence † ˈquainted ppl. a.1, familiar. Obs.
| 1586 W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 75 Heere by the quainted floodes and springs most holie remaining. |
▪ V. † quaint, v.2 Obs.
Also 5 coynt(e.
[In sense 1, a. OF. cointier, cointer, f. cointe quaint; in sense 2, f. quaint a. 10.]
1. trans. To adorn, to make fine or beautiful.
| 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour (1868) 167 Thus loste..theldest doughter her maryage bycause she coynted her self. Ibid. 168 He thenne hadde..coynted hym self of a scarlatte gowne. |
2. to quaint it, to assume a prim air.
| c 1585 Faire Em. iii. 1281 Let Mistress nice go saint it where she list, And coyly quaint it with dissembling face. |
Hence † ˈquainted ppl. a.2 (in 5 coynted).
| c 1500 Melusine 315 In an euyl heure sawe I euer thy coynted body, thy facion, & thy fayre fygure. |