Forms: α. 3–4 cointe, (3 kointe, 4 coint(t, coynte, koynt(e), quoynte, (3 cwointe, 4 quointe, quoynt), 4–5 coynt, quynte, (4 quinte, 6 quyent). β. 3–6 queynte, (4 qweynt(e), 4–6 queynt, queinte, 4–8 queint, 6 quent, qwent; 4–5 quaynt, (4 qwaynt, qwaint), quante, (5 qwantte), 4–6 quaynte, (5 qwaynte), quainte, 4– quaint. γ. 4–5 waynt, 5 wheynte, quhaynte, whaynt(e; dial. 7 wheint, 8–9 whaint, whent, 9 wheant. [a. OF. cointe (quointe, cuinte, etc.), queinte:—L. cognitum known, pa. pple. of cognoscĕre to ascertain. The development of the main senses took place in OF., and is not free from obscurity (cf., however, COUTH and KNOWN).
In its older senses the Eng. word seems to have been in ordinary use down to the 17th c., though in many 16–17th-c. examples the exact meaning is difficult to determine. After 1700 it occurs more sparingly (chiefly in sense 6), until its revival in sense 8, which is very frequent after 1800.]
A. adj.
I. † 1. Of persons: Wise, knowing; skilled, clever, ingenious. In later use chiefly with ref. to the employment of fine language (cf. sense 6). Obs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 580 (Cott. MS.). Hei! hwuch wis read Of se cointe [v.r. icudd] keiser.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 381/165. Þe beste Carpenter And þe quoynteste þat ich euere i-knev.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter cxviii. 98. Thou madest me quainte [L. prudentem] vp myn enemis to þi comaundement.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1531. Wise wrightis to wale … qwaint men of wit.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., I. lxv. Ȝit clerkis bene in subtell wordis quent, And in the deid als schairp as ony snaillis.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 274. To shew how queint an Orator you are. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., III. ii. 149. Wee’ll ouerreach … The quaint Musician.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 273. If you would preach as other men do, and be curious and quaint of Oratory.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, XI. 698. Talk on ye quaint Haranguers of the Crowd.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. vi. 176. The Arabs in general are quaint, bold, hospitable, and generous, excessive Lovers of Eloquence and Poesy.
† b. In bad sense: Cunning, crafty, given to scheming or plotting. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 328. Þeos kointe harloz þet scheaweð forð hore gutefestre.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 739 (Fairf.). Þe nedder þat ys so quaynt of gyle.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 482. ‘Dere broþer’ quaþ Peres ‘þe devell is ful queynte.’
1402. Hoccleve, Letter of Cupid, 152. Sly, queynt, and fals in al vnthrift coupable.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. i. 59. Knaw ȝe nocht bettir the quent Vlexes slycht?
1674–91. Ray, N.-C. Words (E. D. S.), ‘A wheint lad,’ q. queint; a fine lad: ironice dictum. Also, cunning, subtle.
1680. Otway, Orphan, III. iv. 864. The quaint smooth Rogue, that sins against his Reason.
† 2. Of actions, schemes, devices, etc.: Marked by ingenuity, cleverness or cunning. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 294. Ure Louerd … brouhte so to grunde his kointe kuluertschipe.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 4447 (Kölbing). Morgein … þat wiþ hir queint gin Bigiled þe gode clerk Merlin.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 429. Iosephus … fonde up a queynte craft, and heng wete cloþes uppon þe toun walles.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiii. 593. This was a qwantte gawde, and a far cast, It was a hee frawde.
1522. World of Child, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 245. I can many a quaint game.
1598. Rowlands, Betraying of Christ, 10. When traitor meets, these quaint deceits he had.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, II. Wks. 1873, III. 378. I … over-heard you in your queint designe, to new create your selves.
† 3. Of things: Ingeniously or cunningly designed or contrived; made with skill or art; elaborate. Obs.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 88/62. He liet heom makien a quoynte schip.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1555. Hii ȝeue him an quointe [v.r. koynte] drench, mid childe vor to be.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 835. And evermo … This queynte hous aboute wente, That never-mo hit stille stente.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4275. Have we no cures of courte ne na cointe sewes.
1627. Drayton, Nymphidia, lxix. He told the arming of each joint, In every piece how neat and quaint.
1631. Shirley, Traitor, IV. ii. Who knows But he may marry her, and discharge his Duchess With a quaint salad?
† 4. Of things: Skilfully made, so as to have a good appearance; hence, beautiful, pretty, fine, dainty. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1382. With koynt carneles aboue, coruen ful clene.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 877. Whyssynes vpon queldepoyntes, þat koynt wer boþe.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 98. A sylvre nedle forth I droughe, Out of an aguler queynt ynoughe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 777. An ymage full nobill … þai qwaint was & qwem, all of white siluer.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 22. Nor hart could wish for any queint device, But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1303. In his hand A Scepter or quaint staff he bears.
† b. Of dress: Fine, fashionable, elegant. Obs.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 65. The ground … maketh so queynt his robe and fayr That it hath hewes an hundred payr.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 1221. Ne worschipe not men for here fayre cloþes, ne for here qweynte schappis þat sum men usen.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., I. xlvi. In vestures quent of mony sindrie gyse.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 223. Costly attire, curious and quaint apparell is the spur that prickes them forward.
1627. P. Fletcher, Locusts, I. xiii. All lovely drest In beauties livery, and quaint devise.
5. Of persons: Beautiful or handsome in appearance; finely or fashionably dressed; elegant, foppish. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28015. Yee leuedis … studis … hu to mak yow semle and quaint.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 26. Coynte ase columbine, such hire cunde ys.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 14. A wommon wonderliche clothed … Ther nis no qweene qweyntore.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 40. Folke shulde not have thaire herte on the worlde, nor make hem queint, to plese it.
1590. Greene, Never Too Late, Wks. 1882, VIII. 82. He made himselfe as neate and quaint as might be.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. vi. 41. Quaint in greene, she shall be loose en-roab’d. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 317. Fine apparision: my queint Ariel, Hearke in thine eare.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 461. A body so fantastic, trim, And queint in its deportment and attire.
† 6. Of speech, language, modes of expression, etc.: Carefully or ingeniously elaborated; highly elegant or refined; clever, smart; full of fancies or conceits; affected. Obs. (now merged in 8).
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 346. To hir he spac … Wiþ a wel queynt steuen.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 199. We semen wonder wise, Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 255. The quent and curious castis poeticall.
c. 1570. Pride & Lowl. (1841), 807. Pleasaunt songes … To queynt and hard for me to understand.
1655. E. Terry, Voy. E. Ind., XII. 232. The Persian there is spoken as their more quaint and Court-tongue.
1676. Marvell, Mr. Smirke, K iv. A good life is a Clergy man’s best Syllogism, and the quaintest Oratory.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 450, ¶ 1. A new Thought or Conceit dressed up in smooth quaint Language.
1783. Burke, Rep. Aff. India, Wks. 1842, II. 76. A style,… full of quaint terms and idiomatick phrases, which strongly bespeak English habits in the way of thinking.
† 7. Strange, unusual, unfamiliar, odd, curious (in character or appearance). Obs. (now merged in 8).
13[?]. Coer de L., 216. Thou schalt se a queynte brayd.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1330. This is so queynt a sweuyn.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7715. There come with this kyng a coynt mon of shappe.
c. 1440. Ipomydon, 1637. Right vnsemely on queynte manere He hym dight.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. Prol. 12. Now moist I write … Wyld auentouris, monstreis and qwent affrayis.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Oct., 114. With queint Bellona in her equipage.
1629. Milton, Nativity, 194. A drear, and dying sound Affrights the Flamins at their service quaint.
1714. Pope, Wife of Bath, 259. How quaint an appetite in woman reigns! Free gifts we scorn, and love what costs us pains.
1808. Scott, Marm., III. xx. Came forth—a quaint and fearful sight.
8. Unusual or uncommon in character or appearance, but at the same time having some attractive or agreeable feature, esp., having an old-fashioned prettiness or daintiness.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VIII. 234. He for the wintry hour Knew many a merry ballad and quaint tale.
1808. Scott, Marm., II. iii. For this, with carving rare and quaint, She decked the chapel of the saint.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 91. The streaks of light and shadow thrown among the quaint articles of furniture.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. x. 202. The device is full of a quaint humour which marks its antiquity.
1884. J. T. Bent, in Macm. Mag., Oct., 434/2. The herdsmen were much quainter and more entertaining than our city-born muleteers.
II. † 9. Proud, haughty. Obs. rare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 140. Þet fleshs is her et home … ant for þui hit is cwointe & cwiuer.
1340. Ayenb., 89. Þo þet makeþ ham zuo quaynte of þe ilke poure noblesse þet hi habbeþ of hare moder þe erþe.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cvii. 115. I hatte orgoill, the queynte [F. la bobanciere], the feerce hornede beste.
[1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., II. liv. Queint Pride Hath taught her Sonnes to wound their mothers side.]
† 10. Dainty, fastidious, nice; prim. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 128 b/1. She chastyssed them that were nyce and queynte.
1579. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 73. The rest in a manner ar … overstale for so queynte and queasye a worlde.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 10. She nothing quaint Nor ’sdeignfull of so homely fashion.
1640. Brome, Sparagus Gard., III. vii. Wks. 1873, III. 167. Your new infusion of pure blood, by your queint feeding on delicate meates and drinks.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor., To Rdr. p. xv. Fabius … Taxes him … for being too Queint and Finical in his Expressions.
† 11. To make it quaint, to act quaintly, in various senses, esp. to behave proudly, disdainfully or deceitfully. Obs.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 531. Lo! how goodly spak this knight … He made hyt nouther tough ne queynte.
1390. Gower, Conf., V. 4623 (II. 282). O traiteresse … Thou hast gret peine wel deserved, That thou canst maken it so queinte.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2038. I … kneled doun with hondis Ioynt, And made it in my port ful queynt.
c. 1422. Hoccleve, Jonathas, 642. He thoghte not to make it qweynte and tow.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cvi. (1869), 115. With alle myne joyntes stiryinge and with alle my sinewes j make it queynte [F. je marche si fierement.]
† B. adv. Skilfully, cunningly. Obs. rare.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 5511 (Fairf.). Ȝou be-houys to wirke ful quaynte and in þaire dedis ham attaynt.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 245. What shulde I speke more queynte, Or peyne me my wordes peynte?
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 180. Fresche flora spred furth hir tapestrie, Wrocht be dame Nature quent and curiouslie.
C. Comb., as quaint-eyed, -felt, -shaped, -stomached, -witty, -worded adjs.
1575. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 91. Thou arte so queyntefelt In thy rondelett.
1598. Marston, Pygmal., I. 140. Like no quaint stomack’t man [he] Eates vp his armes.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxxvi. (1632), 115. A quaint-wittie, and loftie conceit.
1744. Akenside, Pleas. Imag., III. 250. Where’er the pow’r of ridicule displays Her quaint-ey’d visage.
1853. G. P. R. James, Agnes Sorel (1860), I. 2. This tall quaint-shaped window.
1863. Grosart, Small Sins (ed. 2), 17. Their quaint-worded regulations and distinctions.
