A man speaks frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor queries.
"No, you idiot!" the man shouts. "This is her husband!"
predic. Adj. On even terms by retaliation or repayment. call it quits acknowledge that things are now even; agree to stop quarrelling. [probably related to *quit]
QUOIN
n. - external angle of a building.
- cornerstone.
- wedge used in printing and gunnery. [var. Of *coin]
QUOIT
n. - ring thrown to encircle an iron peg.
- (in pl.) Game using these. [origin unknown]
QUOTA
n. - share to be contributed to, or received from, a total.
- number of goods, people, etc., stipulated or permitted. [latin quotus from quot how many]
QUOTE
—v. (-ting) 1 cite or appeal to (an author, book, etc.) In confirmation of some view.
- a repeat or copy out a passage from. B (foll. By from) cite (an author, book, etc.).
- (foll. By as) cite (an author etc.) As proof, evidence, etc.
- a enclose (words) in quotation marks. B (as int.) Verbal formula indicating opening quotation marks (he said, quote, ‘i shall stay’).
- (often foll. By at, also absol.) State the price of. —n. Colloq. - passage quoted.
- price quoted.
- (usu. In pl.) Quotation marks. [latin quoto mark with numbers]
QUOTH
v. (only in 1st and 3rd person) archaic said. [old english]
QUADRI
comb. Form four. [latin quattuor four]
QUAINT
adj. Attractively odd or old-fashioned. quaintly adv. Quaintness n. [french cointe from latin cognosco ascertain]
QUAKER
n. Member of the society of friends. quakerism n.
QUANGO
n. (pl. -s) semi-public body with financial support from and senior appointments made by the government. [abbreviation of quasi (or quasi-autonomous) non-government(al) organization]
