quietus

[ kwahy-ee-tuhs ]
See synonyms for quietus on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural qui·e·tus·es.
  1. a finishing stroke; anything that effectually ends or settles: Having given a quietus to the argument, she left.

  2. discharge or release from life.

  1. a period of retirement or inactivity.

Origin of quietus

1
1530–40; <Medieval Latin quiētus quit (in quiētus est (he) is quit, a formula of acquittance), Latin: (he) is quiet, at rest (see quiet); cf. quit1 (adj.)

Words Nearby quietus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use quietus in a sentence

  • The briefest glance at David's productivity and output during his tenure there ought to put the quietus on that canard.

    The Frum Flap | Christopher Buckley | March 27, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • No ranchman or hunter would hesitate a moment, under the circumstances, to give him his eternal quietus.

    Two Boys in Wyoming | Edward S. Ellis
  • His classical purpose was very satisfactory to my views—forming a permanent quietus to my imaginary forebodings.

  • The Saints took advantage of the quietus, purchased a horse-mill and soon had it in operation, and released the family graters.

  • A fortunate occurrence that happened at this time gave its quietus to the unpopular horse-breaking speculation.

    Somehow Good | William de Morgan
  • There is no one to say me nay, or to hold my hand back from giving myself the final quietus.

    The Sorrows of Satan | Marie Corelli

British Dictionary definitions for quietus

quietus

/ (kwaɪˈiːtəs, -ˈeɪtəs) /


nounplural -tuses
  1. anything that serves to quash, eliminate, or kill: to give the quietus to a rumour

  2. a release from life; death

  1. the discharge or settlement of debts, duties, etc

Origin of quietus

1
C16: from Latin quiētus est, literally: he is at rest, quiet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012