▪ I. † quaintise, n. Obs.
Forms: α. 4 koint-, quointise, quoyntis(e, quint-, quynt-, qwyntis(e, 4–5 coyntise, koyntis. β. 4 qwayntyse, qwaintis, 4–5 quayntyse, quantyse, qwantis(e; queintise, queyntyse, qweyntise, 4–6 quentise (+ variations of suffix, as -ice, -ese, -yze, etc.).
[a. OF. cointise, cuint-, quentise, etc., f. cointe, queinte: see quaint a. and -ise2.]
1. Wisdom, cleverness, skill, ingenuity.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1872 He ladde is kinedom Riȝtuolliche & suiþe wel wiþ quoyntise & wisdom. c 1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 303 Þere is euere ioye inouh..Wit and kunning and kointise. a 1340 Hampole Psalter, Cant. 519 Genge withouten counsayl it is and withouten quayntis. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 378 Fondys..For to holde my lyf a day With qweyntys of clergye. |
b. Cunning, craft, underhand dealing.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 740 (Gött.) Þe nedder þat es of suilk a schaft, Mast of quantise es in [v.r. and of] craft. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 72 This ypocrite of his queintise Awaiteth evere til she slepte. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1847 Þe deuel with his quayntys Will be aboute ȝow to suppryse. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. liii. 37 Vortiger..thought priuely in his herte thurgh queyntyse to bee kyng. |
2. An instance of cleverness, cunning, or craft; a device, stratagem, trick.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 445 Brut & Corineus an quointise hom bi-þouȝte. c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2769 Thai ne might hit no lenger defende, But ase thai dede a fair queintise. c 1440 Ipomydon 359 She hyr bythought on a queyntyse,..To wete, where of he were come. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour D viij, Such coyntyses..were to compare to the Copspin that made his nette to take the flyes. |
3. Cunning or skilful construction. rare.
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3566 (Kölbing) Þere þo men miȝt yhere þe queintise of þe spere, Of þe sonne, of mone & ster. |
4. Fine or curious dress; fineness, elegance, or fancifulness in dress.
| 13.. K. Alis. 173 Ladies, and damoselis, Maken heom redy..In faire atire, in divers coyntise. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 54 Þay..schulde..in comly quoyntis to com to his feste. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2250 He that loveth trewely Shulde..him disgysen in queyntyse. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 146 The queintise, the plesaunt folyes, and the foule delytis that haue be used for..worldely plesaunce. [1570 Levins Manip. 148/10 A Quentise, modus, mos insolitus.] |
5. A device, cognizance, badge, armorial bearing; a coat of arms, or any cloth bearing a heraldic device. Cf. cointise.
| 13.. Coer de L. 5657 A queyntyse off the kynges owen, Upon hys hors was i-throwen. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 8671 (Kölbing) Þai [the helmets] hadde aboue riche queintise Of beten gold. 1375 Barbour Bruce xiii. 183 Armoris and quyntis that thai bare. |
▪ II. † quaintise, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 queintise, 5 queyntise, coyntise.
[? f. prec., or a. OF. cointiss-, lengthened stem of cointir.]
trans. To beautify, adorn, dress finely.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 358 Sondri thinges wel devised, I sih, wherof thei ben queintised. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. iii. (1869) 77 He weeneth he be now wel arayed and queyntised! 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour C iij, They haue so many gownes wherof they coyntyse and araye their bodyes. |
Hence † quaintising vbl. n., adornment, decoration. Obs.
| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. civ. (1869) 113 Garnementes of velewet beten with gold and siluer and oothere queyntisinges. |