quite

[kwahyt]
adverb
1.
completely, wholly, or entirely: quite the reverse; not quite finished.
2.
actually, really, or truly: quite a sudden change.
3.
to a considerable extent or degree: quite small; quite objectionable.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English, adv. use of quit(e), a variant of quit(te) quit1, the meaning of the two forms not being distinct in Middle English

quiet, quit, quite.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To quite
00:10
Quite is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
quite (kwaɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adv
1.  to the greatest extent; completely or absolutely: you're quite right; quite the opposite
2.  (not used with a negative) to a noticeable or partial extent; somewhat: she's quite pretty
3.  in actuality; truly: he thought the bag was heavy, but it was quite light; it's quite the thing to do
4.  (not used with a negative) quite a of an exceptional, considerable, or noticeable kind: quite a girl; quite a long walk
5.  quite something a remarkable or noteworthy thing or person
 
sentence substitute
6.  Also: quite so an expression used to indicate agreement or assent
 

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

quite
early 14c., adverbial form of M.E. quit, quite (adj.) "free, clear" (see quit). Originally "thoroughly;" the weaker sense of "fairly" is attested from mid-19c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Immune system is quite complex and the particular area of learning capability
  of the immune system isnt understood completely.
But in all cases it may be said that a writer should not indulge in these
  unless he is quite sure he is a good writer.
From personal experience, the comments in aggregate are quite on point.
He began writing captions, sometimes quite lengthy, on each print.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT