| 释义 |
qualityn.adj. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French qualité; Latin quālitāt-, quālitās. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French qualité (late 12th cent. as †qualiteit ; French qualité ) (of things) attribute, property (late 12th cent.), (in medical use) humour (13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), nature, kind, character (13th cent.), excellence, superiority (1671, originally with reference to merchandise), particular class or grade of something (early 19th cent. or earlier), (of a person) character, disposition, nature (early 13th cent.), personal attribute, trait (early 13th cent.; late 15th cent. in positive sense ‘virtue’), rank or position in society (14th cent.), title, description, capacity (1548, earliest in en ceste qualité de in this quality of; 1549 in en qualité de ), nobility, high birth or rank, good social position (1559 in the passage translated in quot. 1579 at sense A. 5a), excellence of character, good nature (1633) and its etymon classical Latin quālitāt-, quālitās distinguishing characteristic, essential character or nature, (in grammar) mood of a verb, in post-classical Latin also (in grammar) manner of action as denoted by an adverb (3rd cent. in adverbia qualitatis adverbs of quality), adjective (4th cent.), good quality (4th or 5th cent. in Jerome), rank (from 12th cent. in British sources), (in medicine) humour (first half of the 13th cent. or earlier) < quālis of what kind ( < the Indo-European base of who pron. + classical Latin -ālis -al suffix1) + -tās (see -ty suffix1; compare -ity suffix); originally formed by Cicero after ancient Greek ποιότης (see note). Compare Franco-Occitan qualitaz (beginning of the 12th cent.), Old Occitan qualitat (13th cent.; also calitat ), Catalan qualitat (12th cent.), Spanish calidad (first half of the 12th cent.), also cualidad (first half of the 13th cent. as †qualidad ), Portuguese qualidade (14th cent.), Italian qualità (first half of the 13th cent. as †qualitate ), and also Dutch kwaliteit (1550 as †qualiteyt ), German Qualität (1519). Compare quantity n., with which the word is frequently contrasted.In sense A. 4b after Italian qualità (1531 in this sense, in the passage translated in quot. 1636). In man of quality (see sense A. 5a) after Middle French, French homme de qualité (1559 in the passage translated in quot. 1579 at sense A. 5a). Ancient Greek ποιότης was apparently formed by Plato; it first occurs in Theaetetus 182a, where Socrates apologizes for it as being a ‘strange word’ (ἀλλόκοτον ὄνομα ). It was subsequently used by Aristotle and other Greek philosophers, whence Cicero became acquainted with it (compare Cicero Academica 1. 25: qualitates..appellavi quas ποιότητας Graeci vocant , I have called ‘qualities’ what the Greeks call ‘qualities’). Compare the following early use of the Latin word (in sense A. 9a) in an English context:OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 228 Sume [ adverbia] synd qvalitatis, ða getacniað hwylcnysse, hu hit gedon sy. A. n. I. With reference to a person (also occasionally an animal). 1. the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > [noun] c1300 St. Michael (Laud) 433 in C. Horstmann (1887) 312 (MED) Þe planetes..ȝiuen him al-so qualite to don so and so. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) Prol. 954 (MED) Thus of his propre qualite, The man..Is as a world. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 1703 (MED) He..Askis þam of sir Alexander..Bathe of his statoure & his strenth..His qualite, his quantite he quirys all-to-gedire. a1500 (a1450) tr. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 26 (MED) Of the qualite and stature of man. 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus iii. f. 25 He vsed to euery nacion sondry exhortacions, as he thought mete for their disposicions and qualitie. a1578 R. Lindsay (1899) I. 10 Knawin[g] of wemen..That thay are not constant in thair quallitie. 1616 W. Lithgow 116 A Dromidore, and Camell, differ much in quality;..the Dromidorie hath a hard-reaching trot... But the Camell..hath a most slow and lazy pace. 1639 J. Ford iii. sig. F3v He deserves no wife Of worthy qualitie, who dares not trust Her vertue in..any danger. 1753 E. Haywood I. 295 She was going on with something, which it is likely would have let Jenny into the quality and character of the intended bride, but was interrupted. 1847 R. W. Emerson 120 They her heralds be, Steeped in her quality. 1873 R. Browning iv. 268 Her quality was, caterpillar-like, To..select a leaf And..feed her fill. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > specifically of person 1607 T. Heywood sig. C Disparadge not your worth too much, you are ful of quality and faire desert. 1609 W. Shakespeare iv. iv. 76 The Grecian youths are full of quality, And swelling ore with arts and excercise. 1702 I. i. 72 Persons of Honour, and great Quality..were every day cited into the High Commission Court. 1889 Tyrwhitt in 15 Feb. 251 One sharp temptation well resisted..shows real moral quality. 1894 Sir E. Wood in 1 Oct. 6/2 [Capt. Peel] had a singularly striking appearance, showing both in face and figure what is termed, in describing well-bred horses, as ‘quality’. 1943 2 July 1/2 (advt.) Roan Pony..shows quality: good bone. 2006 (Nexis) 22 July 12 He sought to hide his light under a bushel... Those who knew him know what a man of true quality he was. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] 1803 A. Maimburg tr. von Ehwald i. 5 Superiority over an enemy in the field is acquired rather by the quality than the number of men. 1869 5 June 7/3 The numbers and the quality of candidates for Orders are notoriously deteriorating. 1978 (Nexis) 11 Jan. These things granted, is there any doubt of the quality of..the man? 1998 111 2155 A detailed biographical sketch of a man's academic prowess paints a better picture of his quality. the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] 1603 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 434 Come, a taste of your Quallitie, a speech, a passionate speech.] 1856 E. K. Kane I. ii. 24 Hans had given me a touch of his quality by spearing a bird on the wing. 1863 J. Doran 369 Thomas..gave the stranger a hearty welcome,..asked for a taste of his quality. 1871 R. Browning 80 Can't you contrive to operate at once,..to show Your quality i' the world? 1903 12 June 7/4 He had a namesake present that night (hear, hear)..and they would be glad of a little taste of his quality. 2. the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > [noun] > distinguishing feature the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > a habit or practice > characteristic a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 8 Þe secunde chapitle..is of þe qualitees, maners, and kunnynge of a surgian..A surgian muste haue handis weel schape..Be he no glotoun. c1450 tr. (Royal) 7 It nedith wisely to enquere of vertues and of vicis..Þe qualitees arne forto be reprovid whan they aliene them from ther meene. 1533 J. Frith Preface To Rdr. sig. Av A frende beholdeth all qualytyes and circumstaunces, his byrth, bryngyng vp, and what feates he hath done. 1551 R. Robinson in tr. T. More Epist. sig. ✠v Youre godlye dysposytyon, and vertuous qualytyes. 1602 J. Marston iii. sig. F4 I hate not man, but mans lewd qualities. 1690 W. Temple Ess. Heroick Virtue iii. 66 in Particular qualities have been observed..in the same Families for several hundred years, as Goodness, Clemency [etc.]. 1783 W. Cowper 31 In thee some virtuous qualities combine To fit thee for a nobler part. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vii. 163 Nature had largely endowed William with the qualities of a great ruler. 1854 J. H. Newman i. ii. 35 The subtlety and perfidy, which..were the qualities of his..countrymen. 1930 N. Coward i. 31 Hatred, possessiveness, petty jealousy. All those qualities came out in us. 1989 D. Radcliffe v. 91 How prescient her brother had been..to recognize in a girl so young the qualities he admired. 2001 27 Jan. 13/5 She has many of the qualities needed to map out a new strategy: a reputation as a tough but fair manager [etc.]. the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > acquired skill > an accomplishment 1584 J. Lyly v. i. sig. E3v Diog. What can thy sonnes doe? Sylui. You shall see their qualities: Daunce sirha. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 127 I haue bred her at my deerest cost In Qualities of the best. View more context for this quotation a1674 Earl of Clarendon (1703) II. viii. 392 He was..most accomplish'd in those Qualities of Horsemanship, Dancing, and Fencing, which accompany a good breeding. 1780 W. Cowper 423 A just deportment, manners graced with ease,..Are qualities that seem to comprehend [etc.]. 1882 17 May The fielding..justified the high reputation for this quality which the..colonial teams..have enjoyed. 1804 W. Cruise I. iv. 99 A tenant in tail..has eight qualities or privileges. 3. society > occupation and work > position or job > [phrase] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 26682 Man agh to telle hir qualite, Sib or freind or quat sco be. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xlviii. 1236 There could not be found any one who..was willing to goe in quality of lieutenant. a1626 F. Bacon Advice to G. Villiers in (1861) XIII. 35 The attorney of the dutchy of Lancaster partakes of both qualities, partly of a judge..and partly of an attorney general. 1664 S. Butler ii. iii. 157 He serv'd his Master, In quality of Poetaster. 1711 J. Addison No. 127. ¶1 Such Packets as I receive under the Quality of Spectator. 1736 tr. C. Rollin IX. 71 They had a regard to his quality of deputy. 1821 W. Scott III. v. 76 Leicester..rode on her Majesty's right hand..in quality of her host. 1864 D. G. Mitchell 82 To understand that I had come in the professed quality of Consul. 1900 23 Nov. 3/3 In his quality as a Chief of State he had paid his respects to the Chief of the French State. 1964 45 (Suppl.) 244 An arraignment of Walter Pater in his quality as homo aestheticus. society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > part or character > [noun] 1566 W. Adlington tr. Apuleius xlvi. f. 109 When the people was desirous to see me play qualities [L. lusus meos spectare], they caused the gates to be shutte, and such as entred in should pay. 4. society > society and the community > social class > [noun] c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. 2198 For eche trespas mote consydered be Iustly mesurid after þe qualite Of hym þat is offendid. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 3303 Lo! so þe quele of qwistsumnes my qualite has changid. 1571 G. Buchanan sig. A.2 It may seme..yat I..pas myne estait, being of sa meane qualitie. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta v. viii. 350 This minister had other different habites, according to the quallitie of the dead. 1675 T. Hobbes in tr. Homer To Rdr. sig. B2 Readers of Poesie (which are commonly Persons of the best Quality). 1726 D. Defoe ii. v. 257 The Priests of Apollo..were..sometimes of no mean Quality. 1823 W. Scott I. i. 8 A gentleman of middling quality. 1873 R. Browning ii. 101 What quality, what style and title, eh? 1995 11 July 20 Carrigafoyle became a boarding house when it was sold in 1917, being regarded as a good address for ladies of high quality. society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > distinction of class > level or grade 1636 E. Dacres tr. N. Machiavel I. ii. 16 It was compos'd only of two of these forenamed qualities, that is to say, of the Principality and Nobility [It. Veniua solo ad essere mista di due qualità delle tre soprascritte, cioè di Principato, e di Ottimati]. 5. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch 886 He had all the men of qualitie [Fr. hommes de qualité] his sworne enemies. 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 103 Let him..procure Recommendation, to some person of Quality. 1671 Lady M. Bertie in (1890) App. v. 22 There are no men of quality but the Duke of Monmouth; all the rest are gentlemen. 1699 M. Lister (new ed.) 180 A Lady of Quality, Madam M——..askt me, What I had seen in Paris that most pleased me. 1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. I. 148 Freely..eaten by People of Quality. 1771 H. Mackenzie 245 The count, for he was of quality, was solicitous to return the obligation. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. viii. 273 Many persons of quality sate the whole day in their carriages. 1871 J. Morley Vauvenargues in (1878) 1st Ser. 9 High enough to command the admiration of people of quality. 1922 M. Arlen ii. i. 69 I'd forgotten that such a phrase was ever made by fine men for fine women—a woman of quality! 2005 (Nexis) 2 Apr. Sam Sweet, a poor Jewish builder,..impresses a lady of quality. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > collectively 1693 114 Walk Bare-headed to his Master's Daughter, in imitation of Quality. 1706 R. Estcourt v. i Did not you tell me..that you was acquainted with all the Quality. 1712 P. Leigh 171 His Son..received the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, at which the greatest Quality of that County were pleased to stand Patrines. 1753 S. Richardson III. ii. 13 I have looked out among the quality for a future husband for her. 1769 Wesley in (1872) III. 370 A large company of Quality (as they called them) came. 1824 Ld. Byron lxiv. 96 She was country born and bred, And knew no better..Than to wax white—for blushes are for quality. 1894 ‘M. Twain’ in Feb. 550 He wuz the highest quality in dis whole town—ole Virginny stock. Fust famblies, he wuz. 1904 ‘M. Corelli’ (ed. 2) xxii. 415 The quality don't seem to care for no one 'cept theirselves. 1978 M. Kenyon xiv. 184 A grouse-shoot, lad... It's a country sport for the quality. 1999 K. Hickman (2000) ii. 33 At the dockside a great crowd of the town's ‘quality’ was waiting to honour them. †6. society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground society > occupation and work > worker > [noun] > follower of occupation as profession > members of the same profession society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > collectively a1586 (?a1513) W. Dunbar (1998) I. 257 The rest of craftis grit ethis swair..Ilk ane into thar qualitie. 1593 H. Chettle To Rdrs. sig. A4 My selfe haue seene his demeanor no lesse ciuill than he exelent in the qualitie he professes. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 56 A Linguist, and a man of such perfection, As we doe in our quality much want. View more context for this quotation 1629 P. Massinger i. iii. sig. C In thee, as being the chiefe of thy profession, I doe accuse the qualitie of treason. a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Faire Maide of Inne v. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. Ggggggg2v/2 I am weary of this trade of fortune-telling,..it is a very ticklish quality. society > society and the community > social relations > party or faction > [noun] > side or cause 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 38 Because you are not of our qualitie, But stand against vs like an enemie. View more context for this quotation II. With reference to a thing. 7. the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [noun] > a property, quality, or attribute 1340 (1866) 153 (MED) To þe bodye of man comeþ alle eueles uor þe destempringe of þise uour qualites oþer of þise uour humours. c1450 (Sloane 2464) 1675 (MED) Yif Superfluyte..Of qualitees gendre by in-proporcyoun In the hed, be signes..knowe thou shalt the indisposicioun be this doctryne. c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. (Takamiya) (1977) 160 (MED) The natural cause comyth of repugnaunz and contradyccion of contraryus qualyteis, þat is to sey, qwan drynes hath lordchyp in þe bodi, þan must it nedys fayle. 1539 T. Elyot (new ed.) 33 a But nowe to the qualities of water. 1551 W. Turner sig. A ivv The qualites of it answer nothing unto the qualyties of wormwode pontyke in Galene. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta vi. xiii. 459 According to the qualities and wealth of the Countrie. 1671 R. Bohun 165 The judgment to be made concerning the Qualitys of Winds..is very various and fallible. 1725 I. Watts i. iii. §4 Ideas, with Regard to their Qualities,..are either clear and distinct, or obscure and confused. 1737 J. Ozell tr. F. Rabelais I. 255 (note) The laxative Quality of the White Grape. 1854 L. Lloyd I. 231 The eatable qualities of the Bothnian salmon. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 552 Qualities, the register of the ship's trim, sailing, stowage, &c., all of which are necessary to her behaviour. 1920 29 July 692/1 [African teak] possesses none of the qualities of teak with the exception of a superficial resemblance in colour. 1964 C. Chaplin xiii. 207 Her art, although brilliant, had a quality pale and luminous, as delicate as a white rose-petal. 2006 (Nexis) 11 Oct. f3 When choosing mutual funds..expenses, risk,..and tax-efficiency are qualities that can be judged before you buy. the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [noun] > matter or corporeal substance > a kind of matter 1583 P. Barrough i. iv. 5 By drynes is ment in this place a drie distempure of the qualitie alone, and by moisture, a moist distempure of the bare qualitie. 1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in 268 An atramentous Quality, of most malignant Nature, was seen to distil from his Lips. 1823 J. Badcock 21 The wood..throws out its volatile qualities, aquæous and acidulous, into the respective tubes. the world > action or operation > manner of action > [noun] 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 6 Hate counsailes not in such a quallity . View more context for this quotation 1651 in T. Fuller 560 The Parishioners..built, and adorned the Church in as good a quality as any round about it. the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [noun] > power or virtue of something the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > a habit or practice > specifically of things 1647 T. Fuller ii. v. 62 Iordan had a quality in the first moneth to overflow all his bankes. 1664 B. Gerbier (new ed.) i. sig. a8 If it had a speaking quality, your Grace would hear its..Alembick sing the Gold its joy. 8. the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > character or nature > [noun] the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > degree of excellence the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [noun] > a property, quality, or attribute > quality as opposed to quantity and relation the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > quality of life a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 304 Colour nedeþ light þat schyneþ in dede to prente þerby þe qualite of þe colour. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 59 (MED) A man may gyffe no couenable penaunce bot if he knawe þe qualitee and þe quantitee of þe synne. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 111 To geue you a clere vndirstonding of the qualitees of theis twoo passions. 1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Math. Præf. sig. *iijv An other liquid Medicine I haue: whose Qualitie, is heate, in the first degree. 1630 tr. G. Botero (rev. ed.) 190 The English Gentleman..judiciously determineth his manner of satisfaction, according to the quality of the offence. 1650 R. Baxter (1662) i. iv. 22 It is so little I know of mine own soul, either its quiddity or quality. 1734 Treaty Eng. & Russ. in N. Magens (1755) II. 592 The Brackers shall be answerable for the Quality of the Goods. 1751 Let. 4 Dec. in (1956) II. 553 Our Flower was all heavy and of an extraordinary good quality. 1794 J. Hutton 272 This principle of fire moves, in the quality of light, with the most amazing velocity. 1841 R. W. Emerson 1st Ser. (Boston ed.) vii. 188 There is more difference in the quality of our pleasures than in the amount. 1879 G. C. Harlan viii. 114 It is on account of the quality, rather than the size, of English print, that it is usually so much pleasanter to read than American. 1915 W. S. Maugham xciv. 494 The landlady called it French cooking, by which she meant that the poor quality of the materials was disguised by ill-made sauces. 1943 J. B. Priestley xxxi. 253 The plans..that would give all our citizens more security, better opportunities, and a nobler quality of life. 1958 A. L. Simon 110/1 Most of the Mercurey wines are red, and they are also of better quality than the few white wines of that district. 1977 M. Edelman viii. 151 The consequence is a decline in the quality of life, springing from a lowering of real income. 2006 (Nexis) 3 Oct. A proposal for..measuring the quality of court services. the world > existence and causation > causation > [noun] 1609 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 45 Giue him note of our approch, With the whole quality wherefore: I feare we shall be much vnwelcome. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. vii. 106 Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury? View more context for this quotation the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > surpassing excellence > [noun] the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [noun] > good quality 1665 T. Herbert (new ed.) 400 Date..a Tree which both for quality, duration, and fruit is usually attributed to Heroes and Conquerors. 1771 11 July Suppl. 1/3 Several specimens of Flint-glass..equal in beauty and quality to the generality of Flint Glass imported from England. 1874 R. St. J. Tyrwhitt 255 Quality of colour means purity or truth of hue. 1885 F. H. Bowman 219 A fine Kent [fleece] selected for quality. 1891 2 May 533/1 The book..has..more quality and distinction than four-fifths of the novels which come under our notice. 1937 Apr. 116/1 (advt.) There is no substitute for quality and there is no substitute for Columbia Residential Venetian Blinds. 1967 97 1035/1 Quality in medicine is not definable in computer terms; it is a product of parental teaching, of schooling. 1991 9 330 The..policy of promoting ‘quality’ in the German workplace. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class > according to quality 1765 4 cvi. 458 He is able to assort each size and quality of the flax. 1835 A. Ure 324 2s. 5d. for spinning the same quality. 1866 G. MacDonald (1878) xiii. 253 A quality of dialogue which indicated thought. 1901 4 June 11/3 To quote for such a quality of material as no English railway requires. 1985 4 Oct. 22/5 Industrial concerns need a quality of water from which all minerals are removed. society > communication > journalism > journal > newspaper > [noun] > serious or quality 1970 25 July 11 The ‘qualities’..need to earn a greater percentage of their income from advertising than the ‘populars.’ 1995 May 3/2 The tabloids..virtually ignore the game; the qualities cover it more systematically. 2006 14 Aug. 6 This practice is quite widespread on tabloid newspapers... It may not even be unknown on..the so-called qualities. III. Technical and specialist uses (chiefly in senses A. 7 and A. 8). 9. Grammar. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > adverb > [noun] > specific types of 1530 J. Palsgrave Introd. 144 Some [adverbs] betoken qualite, and serve to declare..howe a dede is done. a1637 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. i. xxi, in (1640) III Adverbs of qualitie..being formed from Nounes, for the most part, by adding ly. 1713 T. Dyche xl. 64 How is how made, before an Adjective or Adverb of Quality. 1771 M. Raine 185 Agreeably, Adverb of Quality. 1845 J. Stoddart Gram. in (1847) I. 122/1 There is no difference in grammatical use between..an adverb of quantity, and an adverb of quality. 1872 R. Morris xiv. 193 Adverbs of..Manner or Quality, as..well, wisely. 1948 U. Holmes et al. ii. 18 Any demonstrative..or adverb of quality can have an i-prefix. 1965 40 44 When compared or modified by intensives..ordinarily met before an..adverb of quality, for example more. 2001 D. B. Redford at Demotic [In Demotic] nouns and pronouns..were used much as in other stages of Egyptian. Adverbs of quality, place, and time are attested. 1710 vi. 88 Names..express the Things themselves, Qualities are the Manners of those Things, as good, bad, round, square &c. 1769 J. Bell III. ii. 200 Qualities or adjectives are those words which express the manners, qualities, or nature of substantives. c1790 T. Cooke 19 The generality of Qualities are compared, by adding to the positive degree er for the comparative, and est for the superlative. 10. Philosophy. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > metaphysics > [noun] > matter or substance > properties the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > ancient Greek philosophy > post-Socratic philosophy > [noun] > Aristotelianism > elements of ?1537 T. Elyot ii. ii. f. 17 Qualitie is in the complexion, that is to saye, in what state it is, Hotte or colde, moyste or drye. 1656 T. Stanley II. v. 70 If quality be void of matter, it must likewise be void of corporeity. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) The antient School Philosophers distinguish Quality in the general..into Essential and Accidental. 1829 J. Mill II. ii. xiv. 57 Quality is finally used as an absolute term, the generical name of every thing in objects, for which a separate notation is required. 1884 B. Bosanquet et al. tr. H. Lotze 45 The question is renewed as to the actual essence which..lies behind this surface of Quality. 1943 40 337 Quality has been explained away by being reduced to some other category as quantity. 1995 55 484 Classifying existence as a category of modality rather than a category of quality. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical proposition > [noun] > condition of being affirmative or negative the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical classification > [noun] > logical concept > quality of 1552 T. Wilson f. 54 I call that in the proposicion a qualitie, when it doth affirme or deny. 1599 T. Blundeville iii. i How is a simple proposition divided according to qualitie? Into an affirmative and negative proposition. 1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck i. xxx. 117 In Regard of Quality, it is that an Enunciation is divided..into Affirming and Denying. 1725 I. Watts ii. ii. 250 If two Universals differ in Quality they are Contraries. 1843 J. S. Mill I. ii. ii. §1. 227 What are called the quantity and quality of the propositions. 1864 F. C. Bowen v. 120 We thus ascertain the Quality of the Judgment, or whether it is affirmative or negative. 1928 J. N. Keynes (ed. 4) ii. ii. 106 In respect of quality, Kant gave a threefold division, recognising a class of infinite (or limitative) judgments... Thus, S is P being affirmative, and S is not P negative, S is not-P is spoken of as infinite or limitative. 1934 M. R. Cohen & E. Nagel ii. 36 The negative particle, the sign of quality, must be understood to characterize the copula, not the subject or the predicate. 1982 F. Sommers App. B 353 A term or proposition is positive or negative in quality. Thus ‘wise’ and ‘a creature was stirring’ are positive in quality; ‘unwise’ and ‘not a creature was stirring’ are negative in quality. 1991 P. J. Hurley (ed. 4) iv. 186 ‘All S are P’ and ‘Some S are P’ have affirmative quality, and ‘No S are P’ and ‘Some S are not P’ have negative quality. 1804 W. Cruise II. vi. 364 The alteration in the particular estate which would destroy a contingent remainder, must amount to an alteration in its quantity, and not in its quality. 1841 XIX. 46/1. The manner in which the enjoyment is to be exercised..is often expressed by the term Quality of Estate. 1930 78 658 The quality of the estate is determined at its inception and..[the] grant..was held by tenancy in common. 1977 J. Burke (ed. 2) I. 723/2 With reference to their qualities, estates were either absolute, determinable, or conditional. the world > matter > physics > science of sound > [noun] > quality of sound 1807 T. Young I. xxxii. 388 We readily distinguish not only the frequency of the vibrations of a sound, whether constant or variable, and its loudness or softness, but also the quality. 1865 592 Though [certain sounds are] the same for musical purposes, in all other respects the quality is different. 1881 J. Broadhouse 77 The most uncultivated ear would perceive a difference of quality. 1984 A. Copland & V. Perlis ix. 184 My purpose was not to recreate orchestral sounds reminiscent of the quality of the piano. 2000 48 223 Pairs of tones that changed to ‘brighter’ or ‘darker’ tone quality while the fundamental frequency remained unchanged. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > [noun] > proportion of vapour to liquid 1898 H. A. Golding iv. 52 (in figure) Dryness fraction or quality curve. 1937 T. Croft & R. P. Purdy (ed. 2) iii. 24 The quality of steam in average practice is..from about 97 to 99 per cent. 2000 P. Chattopadhyay (ed. 2) xx. 499/1 How does the steam quality vary with the change of the operating parameters of the boiler drum? the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatment by radiation > [noun] > by X-rays > penetrating power of X-ray 1903 W. A. Pusey & E. W. Caldwell ii. v. 309 The quality of the rays and their intensity vary greatly. 1928 B. J. Leggett II. vi. 162 The more or less exact measurement of the quality of X-radiation is of importance in all branches of radiotherapy. 1972 P. Barnes & D. Rees vii. 154 The choice of the radiation quality is determined by the site and the size of the lesion. 2004 S. Jayaraman & L. H. Lanzl (ed. 2) xiii. 191 For..X-ray beams modified by filters.., a measured half-value thickness (HVT) can be used for specifying the quality. society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > [noun] > quality of reproduced sound 1913 G. F. Rowell 9 He revels in the loudest records he can buy, and so long as the noise is satisfactory the musical quality does not trouble him in the least. 1938 A. E. Greenlees xvi. 230 The sales literature of manufacturers will provide much useful information as to what may be expected in the way of quality of reproduction. 1961 G. Millerson 46 A contrast range of 30:1 is generally accepted as providing good picture quality photographically. 1993 Mar. 14/3 Bear in mind that picture and sound quality rapidly deteriorate in second—and third—generation copies. 2004 Apr. 41/1 My Freeview box reports reception quality as 10/10, yet the picture's not as good as a reasonable UHF transmission. †IV. A qualification, a proviso. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [noun] 1622 (Spalding Club) II. 375 Mr. James Ross..acceptit of the said stipend with the qualitie and conditioun aboue mentioned. 1671 in M. P. Brown (1826) II. 507 The said discharge..is clogged and burdened with qualities and protestations. 1714 W. Forbes Pref. 7 Advocates admitted with a quality that they should not take in hand to plead in any..difficult cause without..assistance. 1774 J. Erskine IV. ii. §11 Where the quality adjected to the oath relates precisely to the point which is truly referred to oath, it ought to be accounted intrinsic. B. adj.society > communication > journalism > journal > newspaper > [adjective] > serious or quality 1960 4 6 His plan was to raise the paper's price and tip it decisively into the quality camp. 1972 (Central Office of Information) xviii. 429 The national newspapers..fall into two categories: popular and quality. 1994 Sept. 28/3 The musicianship is quality and tight, and the vocals sound solid and steady. 2006 June (Argentina 2006 Suppl.) 1/2 An ambition to deliver quality wines at the premium end of the market. Compounds C1. General attributive. 1701 G. Farquhar ii. i. 12 Something was the matter, I wanted of Quality-Air. 1706 R. Estcourt i. i. 10 Your Quality Lady, when she speaks, 'tis thus. 1748 S. Richardson III. xxxv. 183 His relations do not despise the fugitive, as persons of their rank and quality-pride might be supposed to do. 1751 T. Smollett III. xc. 257 Peregrine found some ladies of his quality-acquaintance. 1751 T. Smollett II. lxxiii. 281 The influence of Peregrine's new quality-friends. 1768 I. 134 She is so stark quality-mad. 1784 R. Bage I. 233 My Lady's passion for quality living. 1786 A. Mackenzie I. 139 To every coffee-house at this quality-end of the town. 1810 S. Green I. v. 87 She knew but little of fashionable life, and thought every thing that was practised by her quality friend must be right. 1819 (ed. 2) III. 149 The quality-end of the town. 1835 W. Irving 221 Mrs. Lamb, when she had no engagements with her quality acquaintance, would give..tea junkettings. 1837 T. Carlyle II. ii. ii. 104 Young..men, with quality-blood in them, poisoned with quality-pride. 1864 Feb. 174/1 She was a sweet-spoken young thing,—not like Miss Hammond, with her proud, quality airs. 1868 Jan. 104/1 Quality ladies took their bitters regular. 1891 7 Mar. 334/2 Quite a quality horse is Gratian. 1908 J. M. Sullivan 1 A quality gentleman, a gentleman by birth and education. 1966 K. L. Morgan in A. Dundes (1973) 603/1 I never questioned the implication that..my white ancestors were ‘quality’ whites. 2004 S. Olson vi. 84 They would all nod and agree that he was ‘quality’ or ‘a quality person’. This puzzled me... We never discussed who was ‘quality’. b. (In sense A. 8a.) 1891 July 125/1 A pussonable red cyarpit sack, what shows quality marks. 1904 H. Massé xiv. 190 The touch-marks usually were the initials of the maker of the pewter, and..the Company's quality mark. 1999 4 June 37/1 A quality mark is the only way that ordinary people can tell the difference between honest builders and rogues. 1913 4 Nov. 3/7 The most refined patterns in quality tested materials enter into the making of these suits. 1974 15 Aug. (India Suppl.) p. viii/3 (advt.) India's cottons..are quality tested. 1995 Autumn (back cover) (advt.) This purifying tea blend..contains eight quality tested herbs. c. (In sense A. 8c.) (a) 1935 177 74/1 American radio stations are beginning to distinguish between the quality audience and the quantity audience. 1938 10 Oct. 43/1 It has a fairly large and very vociferous ‘quality’ audience. 2004 (Nexis) Feb. 38 The Web reaches a large, quality audience when no other medium reaches them. 1922 Lady Gregory i. 19 If there was quality food I didn't see it. 1961 Winter 240 Shoppers should..be well aware of the quality food that comes from their own farmers. 1993 R. Lowe & W. Shaw 40 You have to eat a lot of fresh fruit over a week, two weeks... You need to eat quality food. 1961 11 Jan. 88/2 The advertising strikes a ‘quality’ note. 2006 (Nexis) 10 July The First Bank ladies..opened their campaign on a quality note..with a 104–28 massacre. 1910 1 Apr. 5/2 (advt.) Hart Schaffner & Marx are correct style makers as well as all-wool quality producers. 1936 8 Feb. 314/1 Lower wage scales than those paid by the ‘quality’ producers in the leading centres. 2006 (Nexis) 17 Oct. The event aims to bring quality producers and providores together to showcase their goods. (b) spec. of a high cultural standard (used esp. with reference to newspapers). 1910 23 Dec. 2/4 (headline) American is the quality magazine. 1941 22 May (advt.) The National Magazine Company..publish such quality magazines as ‘Good Housekeeping.’ 1992 No. 79. 5 An entire strata of cartoons on TV..in the papers and quality magazines. 1917 21 Feb. 3/7 (advt.) The Post is a quality newspaper. 1956 Summer 48 Quality newspapers decline alarmingly, serious journals go bankrupt. 1999 16 Nov. ii. 13/2 All the quality newspapers of those days..felt a real responsibility for not rocking the ship of state. 1930 F. Lawson in D. Hart-Davis (1990) iii. 60 While selling at the popular price, we shall remain a ‘quality’ paper. 1962 11 Oct. 569/2 You can see such reporting even in the so-called quality papers. 2006 (Nexis) 10 Oct. 13 Britain's biggest selling daily quality paper. 1949 30 June 2/3 In the quality Press important questions..are handled seriously. 1960 9 Dec. 12/6 The union would like to see..‘quality’ programmes analogous to the ‘quality’ press. 1998 A. Forna (1999) viii. 237 She published a disclaimer in the quality press shortly after the programme was aired. 1960 9 Dec. 12/6 The union would like to see..‘quality’ programmes analogous to the ‘quality’ press. 2006 (Nexis) 15 Oct. (Business section) 23 Television is now run by accountants more interested in..increasing dividends than producing quality programmes. 1957 1 May 25/7 (advt.) Children's famous name book sale. 5 quality publishers participate. 1961 20 Oct. 11/4 The struggle between the commercial and the quality publisher is fierce. 2001 (Nexis) 1 Dec. 5 The quality publishers are producing mainstream books with a healthy girl-girl content. 1961 11 Jan. 86/3 When may a young man be said to have arrived?... Having his name used as a pun in a quality Sunday paper's erudite crossword puzzle.] 1974 22 May 20/6 The quality dailies have done rather better than the popular journals... Quality Sundays are up 23 per cent. 2006 (Nexis) 14 May 20 Then came the fat Saturdays, and the doom brigade said it would seriously damage the quality Sundays. C2. 1940 35 (Centenary Membership Directory) 24/1 Dodge, Harold F., Quality Results Engineer, Quality Assurance Department, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. 1960 H. C. Thomson & L. A. Mayo xiv. 329 One of the first steps taken..was to enlist the services of George D. Edwards, director of quality assurance of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, as consultant to the Ordnance Department. 1976 Jan. 48/2 An approach to quality assurance based on ‘laundry lists’ of services matched to problems has been criticized as being relevant only to improving the process of care and possibly irrelevant to improving the outcome of care. 1990 T. G. Wreghitt & P. Morgan-Capner iii. 37 Quality assurance can be considered as the broad plan, within which the essential processes of quality control function to ensure that the plan is being adequately implemented. 1998 12 ii. 39/1 Schools need a variety of user-friendly, reliable and valid data on the progress and development of all their pupils to guide self-evaluation and quality assurance efforts. 1733 T. Johnson 3 Aug. (MS BL Add. 32688) f. 222 The Scrub Mobb..burnt a Wooden Image they got at Saml. Clarks and dres't it up lik a Man bought blue Quality binding to put on him in Imitation of a Garter and call'd him Sir R. W. 1770 G. Colman ii. 24 That flimsy piece of quality-binding..is always running after a title. 1825 J. Jamieson Suppl. II. Quality bindin', a sort of worsted tape, commonly used for binding the borders of carpets. 1955 3 Nov. 17/4 (advt.) Broadloom carpet remnant sale... Every size expertly factory finished with quality binding. society > occupation and work > worker > worker according to manner of working > [noun] > suggesting improvements > collectively 1971 P. Niland (title) The quality control circle: an analysis.] 1974 12 Feb. 41/4 We now should learn from our Japanese students. There are..the so called ‘Quality Circles’. 1980 28 Jan. 65/2 The firms are forming ‘quality circles’. These are groups of..employees who..gather..in brainstorming sessions that focus on what can be done to improve output. 1994 Winter 91/1 The emulation of Japanese management..have made quality circles..popular. 2001 S. Crainer & D. Dearlove in (ed. 2) 413/1 As much a social system as an industrial process, kaizen is at the heart of the quality philosophy and involves the use of quality circles. the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > maintenance of standards 1917 (1918) 245 463 It opened and closed the gas ports, and in its rotary motion it throttled them. This gave a quality control. 1935 E. S. Pearson (title) The application of statistical methods to industrial standardisation and quality control. 1943 R. E. Wareham in J. F. Young xviii. 589 Quality control methods are based on the laws of probability and statistics. 1977 P. Johnson xi. 158 This forced academic growth leads to an inevitable collapse of quality-control. 1997 B. Rowlands 108 Fewer..suppliers of Chinese herbal products are to be found in the UK, only two of which..have quality controls. the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > maintenance of standards > person employed in 1947 29 Mar. 4/1 Maintenance superintendent; quality controller and production planner. 1972 M. Jones ii. vii. 126 His next employer was Hoover... He became a quality controller. 1996 J. Grenfell-Hill 168 The miners got all the coal that was considered slag, all that was thrown to one side when the quality controller was checking it. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > resistance > [noun] > reactance > ratio 1899 G. C. Henning tr. A. Martens I. 345 It has been attempted to establish values..which..furnish standards of utility of the material, and are called quality factors [Ger. Qualitätszahlen], or factors of utility. 1947 i. 17 The ratio of the series reactance to the series resistance of a reactor is defined as Q, its quality factor. 1971 24 Dec. 461/1 Recent measurements of the quality factor, Q, for mechanical vibrations generated by dropping parts of the Apollo lunar module and by moonquakes indicate that the Q of the Moon for these vibrations is of the order of 3,000. 1997 R. A. Dentler & A. L. Hafner ii. 29 The Quality of Education scale was developed because of the necessity of including a general educational quality factor that incorporates a broader sense of high standards. society > occupation and work > business affairs > management methods or systems > [noun] > other methods or systems 1953 2 142 (heading) The scope of quality management. 1994 R. J. Taylor & S. B. Taylor xv. 278/2 An organization's information resources must be organized in such a way that the data needed for quality management are gathered and disseminated. 2005 W. E. Lewis et al. i. 6 Quality management decreases production costs because the sooner a defect is located and corrected, the less costly it will be in the long run. 1977 B. W. Marguglio i. ii. 33 The attainment of coherency is extremely important because many elements of a quality management system exist outside of the..control of the Quality organization. 2004 J. J. DePillo et al. i. 1 Formal quality management systems like ISO 9000 are a basic requirement for doing business with the automotive industry. the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time > period of certain character, condition, or events 1972 25 Aug. iv. 3 She is a firm believer in ‘quality time for each child’. Thus while in Europe..she might take a sidetrip to London museums with Liz Beth or a day sight-seeing alone with Phillip. 1977 18 Apr. 158/2 The time they spend with their children is ‘quality time, not quantity time’, say the mothers, echoing the claim of many executive fathers, and the children's home life is frequently more stimulating. 1987 (Electronic ed.) 1 Apr. Busy spouses make appointments to spend quality time or even to have sex. 1995 N. Blincoe xviii. 135 She reached inside her bag for her compact, intending to spend some quality time with her cosmetics. 2005 Z. Smith 61 So here they were, a protesting silence filling the car: against Mozart, against outings generally, against having to take a taxi, against the hour's drive from Wellington into Boston, against the very concept of quality time. Derivatives the world > the supernatural > deity > [adjective] > having no quality or qualities the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [adjective] > of the nature of an attribute > having no quality or qualities 1852 Mar. 261/1 Color, form, &c., all but that qualityless, nondescript substance of Locke. 1859 J. B. Mozley Indian Conversion in (1878) II. 313 Brahm is a motionless, characterless, qualityless, colourless essence. 1920 A. S. Pringle-Pattison 385 I am loath to believe that it is M. Bergson's..intention..to identify reality with the qualityless abstraction of change. 1980 N. Georgescu-Roegen in J. Rifkin vi. 262 All in nature consists of simple qualityless motion. 1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte vi. 77 Neither the vnderstanding, nor any other accident, can be qualiti-like. 1985 B. P. Helm i. 23 Firsts are..these qualitylike elements of novelty and uniqueness, features that are simply there. 1865 65 6/1 He dressed with regard to his qualityship. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † qualityv.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: quality n. Etymology: < quality n. Compare earlier qualitied adj., qualify v. Obsolete. rare. the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > inhere in or be an attribute of [verb (transitive)] > attribute to as belonging or appropriate > invest or endow with attributes 1579 J. Jones Ep. Ded. sig. Aijv By these three they be all qualited. Motion ingendreth, Light shapeth and sheweth, Influence disposeth or qualiteth. 1664 S. Pepys 23 Aug. (1971) V. 250 Lay long, talking with my wife and angry a while about her desiring to have a French maid... But..so she be well qualitied, I care not much whether she be French or no. 1787 A. Croke 17 There is no reason to suppose they have qualitied the land too high. 1813 T. Batchelor 236 The warren contained 878 acres, much of which was qualitied at 9s. to 10s. per acre. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020). <  n.adj.c1300 v.1579 |
