quiddity

noun

quid·di·ty ˈkwi-də-tē How to pronounce quiddity (audio)

plural quiddities

: whatever makes something the type that it is : essence

: a trifling point : quibble

: crotchet, eccentricity

Did you know?

When it comes to synonyms of quiddity, the Q's have it. Consider quintessence, a synonym of the "essence of a thing" sense of quiddity (this oldest sense of quiddity dates from the 14th century). Quibble is a synonym of the "trifling point" sense; that meaning of quiddity arose from the subtler points of 16th-century academic arguments. And quirk, like quiddity, can refer to a person's eccentricities. Of course, quiddity also derives from a "Q" word, the Latin pronoun quis, which is one of two Latin words for "who" (the other is qui). Quid, the neuter form of quis, gave rise to the Medieval Latin quidditas, which means "essence," a term that was essential to the development of the English quiddity.

Example Sentences

for all of her quiddities, she is a very wise and generous lady Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait.

Recent Examples on the Web Teffi bids us to accept the mystery of this strange business of life in all its delightful quiddity.

Sara Wheeler, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021 None of these quiddities has much to do with efficient military training.

Steele Brand, Time, 20 Sep. 2019 Our skulls are like space helmets; we are trapped in our heads, unable to convey the quiddity of our sensations.

Jason Pontin, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2018 But not even there, Lawrence thought, could Cézanne entirely overcome convention—Hortense still being somewhat of an image as opposed to sheer quiddity.

Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2011

quiddity

noun

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit for all of her quiddities, she is a very wise and generous lady

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

trick
characteristic
trait
idiosyncrasy
singularity
mannerism
peculiarity
quirk
eccentricity
individualism
habit
oddity
tic
crotchet
curiosity
twist
attribute
kink
quip
property
character
affectation
personality
erraticism
practice
tendency
airs
attitude
pattern
identity
weirdness
perversion
addiction
nature
individuality
abnormality
way
custom
humor
disposition
predilection
neuroticism
temperament
predisposition
partiality
proclivity
genius
propensity
inclination
leaning
bent
practise
penchant
wont
mark
turn

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

conformity
sameness

as in essence

the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait

Synonyms & Similar Words

essence
substance
nature
soul
quintessence
essentiality
manifestation
being
stuff
name of the game
core
spirit
aspect
pith
property
attribute
heart
personification
incarnation
marrow
kernel
center
embodiment
feature
gist
nub
seat
epitome
keynote
alpha and omega

单词	quiddity
释义	quiddity noun quid·di·ty ˈkwi-də-tē plural quiddities 1 : whatever makes something the type that it is : essence 2 a : a trifling point : quibble b : crotchet, eccentricity Did you know? When it comes to synonyms of quiddity, the Q's have it. Consider quintessence, a synonym of the "essence of a thing" sense of quiddity (this oldest sense of quiddity dates from the 14th century). Quibble is a synonym of the "trifling point" sense; that meaning of quiddity arose from the subtler points of 16th-century academic arguments. And quirk, like quiddity, can refer to a person's eccentricities. Of course, quiddity also derives from a "Q" word, the Latin pronoun quis, which is one of two Latin words for "who" (the other is qui). Quid, the neuter form of quis, gave rise to the Medieval Latin quidditas, which means "essence," a term that was essential to the development of the English quiddity. Synonyms crotchet curiosity eccentricity erraticism idiosyncrasy individualism kink mannerism oddity peculiarity quip quirk singularity tic trick twist See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences for all of her quiddities, she is a very wise and generous lady Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait. Recent Examples on the Web Teffi bids us to accept the mystery of this strange business of life in all its delightful quiddity. Sara Wheeler, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021 None of these quiddities has much to do with efficient military training. Steele Brand, Time, 20 Sep. 2019 Our skulls are like space helmets; we are trapped in our heads, unable to convey the quiddity of our sensations. Jason Pontin, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2018 But not even there, Lawrence thought, could Cézanne entirely overcome convention—Hortense still being somewhat of an image as opposed to sheer quiddity. Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2011 Word History Etymology Middle English quidite, from Medieval Latin quidditat-, quidditas essence, from Latin quid what, neuter of quis who — more at who First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 quiddity noun 1 as in trick an odd or peculiar habit for all of her quiddities, she is a very wise and generous lady Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance trick characteristic trait idiosyncrasy singularity mannerism peculiarity quirk eccentricity individualism habit oddity tic crotchet curiosity twist attribute kink quip property character affectation personality erraticism practice tendency airs attitude pattern identity weirdness perversion addiction nature individuality abnormality way custom humor disposition predilection neuroticism temperament predisposition partiality proclivity genius propensity inclination leaning bent practise penchant wont mark turn Antonyms & Near Antonyms conformity sameness 2 as in essence the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is Rembrandt's genius was his unparalleled ability to render a person's quiddity in a single portrait Synonyms & Similar Words essence substance nature soul quintessence essentiality manifestation being stuff name of the game core spirit aspect pith property attribute heart personification incarnation marrow kernel center embodiment feature gist nub seat epitome keynote alpha and omega
随便看	hibernation hibernations hibernator hibernators hibernia hiberniae Hibernian hibernian green Hibernianism hibernians hibernias hibernicise hibernicised hibernicises hibernicising Hibernicism hibernicisms hibernicize hibernicized hibernicizes hibernicizing hibernisations hibernise hibernised hibernises

quiddity

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun