Word of the Day Archive
Tuesday March 2, 2004
qua \KWAY; KWAH\ , preposition:
In the capacity or character of; as.
This might be thought a decisive objection to a federal judge's writing about this subject even if the judge writes qua academic rather than qua judge.
-- Richard A. Posner, An Affair of State
Gossipmongers aren't obsessed with gossip qua gossip; they're grappling with the great issues of our day: Truth, Honor and Justice.
-- Robert Plunket, "Cyberscandal", New York Times, June 1, 1997
Another problem is the estimation in which one is held qua artist by fellow New Yorkers.
-- John Romano, "Is Hollywood Fatal for New York Writers?", New York Times, March 11, 1984
Qua is from the Latin, from qui, "who."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for qua
