quina·ry I. \ˈkwīnərē, -win-\adjective Etymology: Latin quinarius, from quini five apiece + -arius -ary; akin to quinque five — more at five 1.: consisting of five : arranged by fives : quintuple < the quinary system is based on counting the fingers of one hand — H.J.Spinden > 2.: of the fifth order or rank II. noun (-es) : a quinary group or system