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quartet

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quar⋅tet

[kwawr-tet]
–noun
1. any group of four persons or things.
2. an organized group of four singers or players.
3. a musical composition for four voices or instruments.
Also, especially British, quar⋅tette.


Origin:
1765–75; < It quartetto, dim. of quarto < L quartus fourth
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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quar·tet also quar·tette   (kwôr-tět')   
n.  
  1. Music

    1. A composition for four voices or four instruments.

    2. A group of four singers or four instrumentalists.

  2. A group of four.


[French quartette, from Italian quartetto, diminutive of quarto, fourth, from Latin quārtus; see quart.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

quartet

A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of music for four instruments or voices.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

quartet 
1773, "musical composition for four instruments or voices," from Fr. quartette, from It. quartetto, dim. of quarto "fourth," from L. quartus "fourth." Meaning "set of four singers or musical performers" is from 1814.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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