quiet

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French, from Latin quietus, past participle of quiescere (“to keep quiet, rest”). Doublet of coy and quietus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwaɪ.ət/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪət

Adjective

quiet (comparative quieter or more quiet, superlative quietest or most quiet)

1. With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.

   I can't hear the music; it is too quiet.

2. Having little motion or activity; calm.

   the sea was quiet

   a quiet night at home

   all quiet on the Western front

3. Not busy, of low quantity.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 8, in The China Governess‎:

     It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.

   The traffic was quiet for a Monday morning.

   Business was quiet for the season.

4. Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.

   He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.

5. Not showy; undemonstrative.

   a quiet dress

   quiet colours

   a quiet movement

6. (software) Requiring little or no interaction.

   a quiet install

Verb

quiet (third-person singular simple present quiets, present participle quieting, simple past and past participle quieted)

1. To become quiet, silent, still, tranquil, calm.

   When you quiet, we can start talking.

2. To cause someone to become quiet.

   Can you quiet your child? He's making lots of noise.

   The umpire quieted the crowd, so the game could continue in peace.

Noun

quiet (plural quiets)

1. The absence of sound; quietness.

   There was a strange quiet in the normally very lively plaza.

   We need a bit of quiet before we can start the show.

2. the absence of movement; stillness, tranquility

Interjection

quiet

1. Be quiet.

   Quiet! The children are sleeping.

Related terms

• acquiesce
• acquiet
• disquiet
• have a quiet word
• inquietude
• keep quiet
• on the quiet
• peace and quiet
• so quiet/so quiet one can hear a pin drop
• quiesce
• quiescent
• quiet as a mouse
• quiet coach
• quiet down
• quiet enjoyment
• quiet lung
• quiet down
• quiet period
• quietage
• quieten
• quietism
• quietist
• quietly
• quietness
• quietsome
• quietude
• ultraquiet
• unquiet

Further reading

• quiet in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• quiet in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• quiet at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• quite

Etymology

First attested 1490. From Latin quietus, in this form probably a borrowing or a semi-learned term; cf. also the Old Catalan form quet, queda, which was likely inherited.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /kiˈət/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /kiˈɛt/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /kiˈet/

Adjective

quiet (feminine quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietes)

1. calm, stopped
2. quiet

Noun

quiet

1. water

References

• Willem F. H. Adelaar, The Languages of the Andes

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quiētus, from quiēs (“rest”). Doublet of coi, which was inherited, and quitte, another borrowing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kjɛ/

Adjective

quiet (feminine singular quiète, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quiètes)

1. (rare, literary, of a person) calm, quiet, peaceful, at ease

Further reading

• “quiet” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

From Latin quietus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkjet]

Adjective

quiet m (feminine singular quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietas)

1. calm, stopped
2. quiet