Quit, † quite v.

Forms: α. Infin. 3–5 quiten, quyten, (5 -yn), 4 quyty, 4–7 quyte, quite, 5 qwite, qwyt(e, qw-, queyt, 5–6 quyt; 5 qu-, qwyght, 6 quight; also north. 5 whyte, 6 -tte, 5, 7–9 white, 9 wheyte. Pa. t. 4–5 quitte, quyt, 4–6 quit(t, quytte, 5 qwit, 5–6 quyte; 5–6 quyted, 6 quited, quighted. Pa. pple. 4–5 iquytt, i-, yquyt(te, yquit; 4 quite, 4–5 quitte, 4–6 quit, quyt, 5 qwit(t(e, Sc. quet, 5–6 quyte, qwytt, 6 quitt, Sc. quyite; 4 i-quited, 5–7 quited, 6 quyted. β. 4, 7 quitte, 5 quytte, 6 quitt, 4– quit. γ. See QUAT v.² [(1) In α-forms (ME. type quīten), a. OF. quiter = Sp., Pg. quitar, It. quitare, med.L. quitare, ad. med.L. quiētāre to make quiet, put in quiet, set free, absolve, etc., f. quiētus QUIET (cf. QUIT a.). (2) In β-forms (ME. type quitten), a. later OF. quitter (cf. ON. kvitta, Sw. qvitta, Da. kvitte). The origin of this F. form is obscure; it apparently became common in the 14th c., but med.L. quittare is found in documents of the 13th (Du Cange).

  The exact range of ME. quītte(n is difficult to determine (cf. QUIT a.); the usual form was undoubtedly quīte(n. The pa. t. and pa. pple. of this were usually quitte, quit (less commonly quited), and this fact may have assisted in the general substitution of quit for quite which began in the latter part of the 16th c., and was practically complete by 1650. During the first half of the 17th c. the pa. t. and pple. vary between quit and quitted, the former being freq. employed even by writers who use quit in the inf. and pres.; in later use quitted is the standard form, quit being now dial. and U.S. colloquial.]

  I.  † 1. trans. To set free, release, deliver, redeem (usually a person; also absol.). Const. from, out of, and occas with out adv. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6680. Dei þai sal wit-vten lite, Wit-vten raunscun for to quitte.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9582. Quyte þe weyl oute of borghegang.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 177 (205). Allas! they quitte him out to rathe.

c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun, 1352. Crist borne to qwite man out of infernale disese.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 143 b/2. But for al that was not he quyte fro the pryson of helle.

a. 1569.  Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., xi. (1580), 74. They counselled the people to quite Barabbas.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 213. For nought mought they quitten him from decay.

1616.  R. C., Times’ Whistle, vi. 2537. A litle mony from the law will quite thee.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 557. Arise therefore, quite thy cause, deliver thy people.

1652.  Gataker, Antinom., 4. My intent … was … to qit one passage of Scripture from their abuse thereof.

  † b.  To free, clear, rid of. Obs.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 317. He delyvered and quitte alle þe cherches … of alle manere kynges tribute.

1530.  Palsgr., 677/1. I wyll quyte hym for a grote of all the dettes he oweth.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 218. I should rob the Deaths-man of his Fee, Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Lives Emperors, in Hist. Ivstine, I i 5. He quited Ancona and Dalmatia of the Saracens.

1668.  Pepys, Diary, 5 March. She … made me resolve to quit my hands of this office.

1715.  Rowe, Lady Jane Grey, IV. i. That Mercy, Which quits me of the vast unequal Task.

1798.  Geraldina, II. 201. Two thousand guineas will not quit Revel of the expence.

  c.  refl. To rid (oneself) of.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 11198 (Fairf.). He did alle mennys namys wryte That of this yeld shuld none hem quyte.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Lives Emperors, in Hist. Ivstine, I i 5. He quitted himselfe of further trouble.

c. 1665.  Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson, 10. He quitted himself of his employment abroad.

a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Luke iv. 30. It was an easy thing for him … to quit himself of any mortal enemies.

1857.  Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, 4. It requires some boldness to quit ourselves of these feelings.

  † 2.  To clear (a suspected or accused person) from a charge; to prove (one) innocent of. Chiefly refl. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14857. If it war sli maner wite Þat he þar-of ne moght him quite.

c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag. (W.), 2898. If he haue this day respite, Tomorn he sal himseluen quite.

1533.  J. Heywood, Merry Play (1830), 18. I thought … That he had lovyd my wyfe, for to deseyve me, And now he quytyth hymself.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 20. He … shall againe be tryde, And fairely quit him of th’ imputed blame.

1683.  Apol. Prot. France, iii. 11. Do not conclude before you have quitted the Subjects from that suspicion.

1715.  Bentley, Serm., x. 350. Their known Poverty and perpetual Austerities wholly quit them of that suspicion.

  † b.  To absolve, acquit (of, from). Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1337. Þys fals men, þat beyn sysours, Þat … wyl… a þefe for syluer quyte.

1451.  Paston Lett., I. 208. We undirstand he shall not be quyte but before the Justice.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 4. There shall be no delayes vntill another Sise, But either quit, or to infernall Gayle.

1584.  Peele, Arraignm. Paris, IV. iv. The man must quited be by heav’ns laws.

1609.  Bible (Douay), 2 Macc. iv. 47. Menelaus certes being guiltie of al the evil was quitted of the crimes.

1677.  W. Hubbard, Narrative (1865), I. 96. Upon Tryal the said Prisoners were all of them quitted from the Fact.

1755.  Monitor, No. 11. I. 84. It will be difficult to quit the advisers of such a misapplication, from a crime.

  absol.  1549.  Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. 4. Menne maye peraduenture vnrighteously condemne or quyte.

1560.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 927. I creat ȝow to condampne or to quite, My Iuge deput.

  3.  refl. To do one’s part, behave, bear oneself, (usually in a specified way). Now arch.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., Prol. 1. In feith, Squier, thow hast thee wel yquit.

1455.  Paston Lett., I. 329. To quyte us lyke men in this querell.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxliii. (1482), 291. Manly and knyghtly he quytte hym in al maner poyntes.

1589.  Marprel. Epit., D ij b. Iohn of London … could haue quited himselfe no better then this.

1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. iv. 9. Bee strong, and quit your selues like men,… and fight.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 188. Labour to quite our selves well in our sufferings.

a. 1716.  South, Serm. (1744), X. 302–3. This is the fourth means to enable us to quit ourselves in the great duty of peaceableness.

1868.  Browning, Ring & Bk., V. 278. I rode, danced and gamed, Quitted me like a courtier.

  † b.  To acquit oneself (well, etc.) of a task or duty. Obs.

1413.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), V. xi. 103. Of these … seuen [signes] ye haue quyte yow well.

c. 1450.  Robin Hood & Monk, lxxvii. in Child, Ballads, III. 100/2. I haue done þe a gode turne for an euyll, Quyte þe whan þou may.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 383. One which knewe so well to quite himselfe of his charge, that all rancour … ceased.

  † c.  To use (the hands); to play (one’s part).

1596.  Harington, in Metam. Ajax (1814), 35. That I were like to quit my hands in the fray as well as any man.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., II. iv. 28. The generall subiect to a wel-wisht King Quit their owne part.

  † 4.  To remit (a debt, etc.). Obs. rare.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 6032. They shall quyte your oth al free.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xviii. 22. The lordes dyd quyt me my ransom and prison.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 381. To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods, I am content.

1672.  Milton, Samson, 509. Perhaps God will relent, and quit thee all his debt.

1693.  Dryden’s Juvenal, vii. (1697), 178. For that Revenge I’ll quit the whole Arrear.

  5.  To give up, let go, renounce, etc.; to cease to have, use, enjoy, be engaged in or occupied with. (Freq. with implication of sense 7.)

c. 1440.  Generydes, 3608. As for the land of Perce … My lord and fader quyte it in his dayes.

1560.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 900. The copie clene I quite it is sa skant.

1612.  Selden, To Rdr., in Drayton’s Poly-olb. The Capricious faction will … neuer quit their Beliefe of wrong.

a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 434. It seems that the Christian Britons at the font quitted their native names as barbarous.

1671.  [R. MacWard], True Non-conf., 2. That Non-conformists think they may quite the Communion of the Church, if [etc.].

1729.  Butler, Serm. Resentm., Wks. 1874, II. 100. Resentment has taken possession of the temper,… and will not quit its hold.

1788.  Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 156. Choosing rather to quit their power than their principle.

1828.  D’Israeli, Chas. I., II. ii. 47. Richelieu, once resolved, never quitted his object, till it became his own.

1851.  Helps, Comp. Solit., xiii. (1874), 236. There are very few men who know how to quit any great office.

  b.  To give up, yield, hand over to another. Now rare or Obs.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 101. I have leuer to quytte yow and gyue yow my parte.

1559.  Kennedy, Lett. to Willock, in Wodrow Misc. (1844), 273. I quyte ȝou the haill cause without farther disputatioun.

1627.  Hakewill, Apol. (1630), 106. As God had quitted unto them, all dominion over his creatures.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 138. He might wisely quit his Mastership of the Wards to the Lord Say.

1769.  Robertson, Chas. V., XII. Wks. 1826, III. 371. Every argument which … could induce him to quit the Imperial throne to Philip.

1824.  J. Johnson, Typogr., I. 551. His father seems to have quitted the trade to him in 1576.

  c.  To let go (something held or grasped).

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, 122, Love unknown, 11. The servant instantly Quitting the fruit, seiz’d on my heart alone.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 102, ¶ 7. This teaches a Lady to quit her Fan gracefully when she throws it aside.

1808.  J. Barlow, Columb., VIII. 82. The weak moment when she quits her shield.

1841.  Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., II. 145. A horseman … sprung from his horse, and, without quitting the bridle, rushed into the tent.

  6.  To cease, stop, discontinue (doing something). Now U.S.

1754.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 166. Persons who rent seats … after they quitt sitting in them [etc.].

1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 165. They followed on his trail, nor quit hovering about him … until [etc.].

1882.  A. E. Sweet, Sketches fr. ‘Texas Siftings,’ 62. The dog-catchers have quit going their rounds.

  b.  absol. Also U.S. with off.

a. 1641.  Suckling, Why so pale and wan, 11. Quit! quit for shame! this will not move.

1752.  H. Walpole, Lett. (1833), III. 25. It is I, that will not act with such fellows … if they are kept, I will quit; and if the Bishop is dismissed, I will quit too.

1868.  Morning Star, 10 March, 6/3. He has happily laid to heart the good old maxim for speech-makers, ‘Quit when you’ve done.’

1894.  Chicago Advance, 1 March. I don’t see how you ever made up your mind to quit off [from study].

  7.  To leave, go away or depart from (a place or person); to part or separate from (a thing).

1603.  Florio, Montaigne, II. ii. (1897), III. 29. Our minde cannot out of her place attaine so high. She must quit it and raise her selfe aloft.

1623.  Massinger, Dk. Milan, IV. ii. We know our duty, And quit the room.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., vii. 19. Having quit the River he marched somewhat faster then ordinary.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, II. 274. Hope travels thro’, nor quits us when we die.

1787.  Winter, Syst. Husb., 306. When the earth is sufficiently dry, so as to quit the hoe.

1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, I. iv. They quitted not their harness bright, Neither by day, nor yet by night.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Briery Creek, v. 100. It is a serious matter to quit country and family and friends.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., v. 242. The labourer was forbidden to quit the parish where he lived.

  b.  absol. To leave the premises that one occupies as a tenant.

1768.  [see QUITTING vbl. sb.].

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 74. A lease … determinable … on giving reasonable notice to quit.

1831.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. To the Shade of Elliston. Thou … had notice to quit, I fear, before thou wert quite ready to abandon this fleshly tenement.

  c.  absol. To go away. dial. and U.S.

1839.  Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 231. Clear out, quit, and put—all mean ‘be off.’

1850.  Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 99. No sooner was I engaged by a ‘boss,’ than all the other workmen quitted.

1883.  Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 146. He rose at once, and said … he reckoned he would quit.

  8.  intr. To quit with, to part with or from. rare.

1635.  Shirley, Traitor, I. i. If You can find dispensation to quit with Amidea,… be confident Oriana may be won.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., viii. Ye hae preached twenty punds out o’ the Laird’s pocket that he likes as ill to quit wi’.

  9.  trans. To remove; to put, take or send away (also with dat. of person); to dismiss. Now rare.

1575.  Turberv., Faulconrie, 364. This medicine … cureth and quitteth the mangie.

1598.  Barret, Theor. Warres, 116. Having quited and depriued them the preheminence to elect Captaines.

1625.  Massinger, New Way, II. iii. I’ll quit you From my employments.

1649.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 45. The small intelligence come to us … would have quitted you this trouble.

1755.  J. Shebbeare, Lydia (1769), I. 361. Miss Arabella … took it out again, without quitting her hand from it.

1847.  Infantry Man. (1854), 38. Quit the left hand smartly to the left side.

  II.  10. To repay, reward, requite (a person with some return for something done). Obs. exc. north. dial. (in phr. God etc. quite, white, twite).

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 595. Þou quyteȝ vchon as hys desserte.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 524. We han well deserued hyt, Therfore is ryght that we ben quyt.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 6975. Thus quyte he them that were to hym so kynd.

c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 178. Syth he had done me one displeasure, I shall quite him agayne with two.

1576.  Woolton, Chr. Manual, C i. Let vs not with like thanks quite almightye God for his greate benefyts bestowed vppon vs.

1599.  Massinger, etc. Old Law, II. ii. When I visit, i come comfortably, And look to be so quited.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. i. 33/448. Thought he, I understand your Play, And how to quit you your own way.

1691.  Ray, N. C. Words, White, to requite; as, ‘God white you.’

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial. (1839), 16. Odd white … Iustice an king teea, for meaakin sic laas.

  † 11.  To make a return to (a person) for (something done, a benefit or injury received, etc.). Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4422. Ill es þe quit þi god seruis!

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 2258. Ȝe quite him iuel his swink.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Manciple’s T., 189. O false theef!… I wol thee quite anon thy false tale!

c. 1440.  Partonope, 1554. His kyndenes so he wole hym quyte.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 171 b. God shall thee heare and quite thee thy trauayle.

1548.  W. Patten, Exped. Scot., Pref. a ij. Since we soo quyt theym their kyndnes, and departed so litle in their det.

  b.  With omission of personal object: To repay, make a return for (something done to or for one).

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 325. Alle þi frendes fordedes faire schalstow quite.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 1187. His trauelle shalle be ryȝt welle y-quytte.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 1101. As I am cristynit perfite, I sall thi kyndnes quyte.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, liv. 183. I shall quyte your mockes.

c. 1586.  C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXXXVII. iv. Thou, O Lord, will not forgett To quit the paines of Edoms race.

1607.  Tourneur, Rev. Trag., V. iii. The rape of your good Lady has been quited.

a. 1632.  T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. I. ix. (1642), 199. On this manner was the Duke of Orleance death quitted.

1850.  Blackie, Æschylus, I. 137. Like quit with like, and harm with harm repay.

1879.  Sir E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, V. xxvii. If I attain I will return and quit thy love.

  † c.  To be a return or equivalent for, to balance; esp. in phr. to quit (the) cost. Obs.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 185. A litel tiled wel wul quyte expence.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 5700. On good turne another quytith.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 14. The roughe otes be the worste, and it quiteth not the coste to sowe them.

1608–11.  Bp. Hall, Epist., I. viii. Wks. (1627), 288. Nothing can quite the cost and labour of trauell but the gaine of wisdome.

1646.  J. Gregory, Notes & Observ. (1650), 63. The strangeness hath been quitted by an Experience of later daies.

1659.  Brome, Eng. Moor, I. i. Wks. 1873, II. 4. It is not grief can quit a father’s blood.

1787.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 106. Nor would that country quit the cost of being retained against the will of the inhabitants.

  III.  12. To pay, pay up, clear off (a debt, etc.).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 28428. I wit-halden ha my tende, and has it quitte til oþer men.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3920. He may þan In purgatory qwyte alle þe dett.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Wife of Bath’s T., 152. Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire.

a. 1450.  Myrc, 1978. Ȝef hys godes to luyte be For to quyte þat oweth he.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 23. A thousand markes … To quit the penalty, and to ransome him.

1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Rich. II., clvii. Hee meant To quit all scores, after the Parliament.

1671.  Yarranton, Eng. Impr., 110. I’le pay the reckoning, and quit this honest Countrey-mans Charge.

a. 1800.  Cowper, Ep. to R. Lloyd, 22. That I may fairly quit The debt which justly became due.

1854.  in Whately, Cautions for Times, 131. The souls in Purgatory … only quit the score of punishment which they have not yet paid in this life.

  absol.  1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVII. 32. Operis satisfactio that … for alle synnes soueraynliche quiteth.

  † b.  With dat. of person, esp. in phr. to quite one his meed, hire, etc. Obs.

13[?].  Coer de L., 1420. I schal quyten hym hys mede.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, vii. 66. Inglis men … quit þam þaire hire.

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 512. Ther was non of hem alle … That he ne … quitte him his dette.

1550.  Crowley, Last Trumpet, 446. Let me take vengeance, saith the Lord, And I wyll quyte them all theyr hyre.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., xiv. 99. All Faithfull hartis quyte thair meid.

  † 13.  To pay, or give, back; to give in return.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27867 (Fairf.). He gas to paine, til wrange tane þing be quite againe.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 173. Þes worldly prestis … quiten not aȝen but stynkynge preiere bifore god. Ibid., 215. For o schrewed word a man mot quyte anoþer or moo.

14[?].  Good Counsel, in King’s Quair (S.T.S.), 51. For ilk ynch he wyll the quyte a spane.

  † b.  absol. To make return or repayment. Obs.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xxxvi. 22. Þe synful sall borow and he sall noght quyte.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 294. Eft whyte when I may Bot this will I borow.

  † 14.  To pay for (a thing). Obs. rare.

c. 1250.  Soth Sermun, 77, in O. E. Misc., 190. Robin wule Gilot leden to þen ale … He mai quiten hire ale.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6685. Þe smiter sal quite his lechyng.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11852. Alle oure scaþes schul þey quyte.

  Quit, variant of COOT sb.²; obs. form of WHITE.