Forms: 4–7 -ite, 4–5 -itee, 6 -yte, -itye, 6–7 -itie, 7 quall-, 6– quality. [ME. qualite, a. F. qualité (12th c.), ad. L. quālitāt-em (formed by Cicero to render Gr. ποιότης), f. quālis of what kind: see -ITY.]
I. Of persons (in 1 and 2 occas. of animals).
1. Character, disposition, nature. Now rare.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 312/433. Þe planetes … ȝiuen him al-so qualite to don so and so. Ibid., 435. Swuch qualite … to beon lechor oþur schrewe.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. Prol. 35. Thus of his propre qualite The man … Is as a world.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 247. I knaw, be ȝour qualitie Ȝe want the gift of chastitie.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, 25. He vsed to euery nacion sondry exhortacions as he thought mete for their disposicions and qualitie.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 10. Knawin[g] of wemen … That thay are not constant in thair quallitie.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VI. 298. A Dromidore, and Camel differ much in quality.
1639. Ford, Lady’s Trial, III. iii. He deserves no wife Of worthy quality, who dares not trust Her virtue in … any danger.
1847. Emerson, Poems (1857), 94. They her heralds be, Steeped in her quality.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 268. Her quality was, caterpillar-like, To … select a leaf And … feed her fill.
b. Capacity, ability, or skill, in some respect.
In mod. use as an echo of Shaks., who prob. intended the word in sense 5.
[1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 452. Come giue vs a tast of your quality: come, a passionate speech.]
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. ii. 24. Hans had given me a touch of his quality by spearing a bird on the wing.
1863. Doran, Ann. Stage, 369. Thomas … gave the stranger a hearty welcome,… asked for a taste of his quality.
1871. Browning, Pr. Hohenst., 1165. Can’t you contrive to operate at once,… to shew Your quality i’ the world.
c. Without article or poss. pron.: Excellence of disposition; good natural gifts. (Cf. 9 c.)
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. iv. 78. The Grecian youths are full of qualitie, Their louing well compos’d, with guift of nature.
1607. Heywood, Wom. Killed, II. i. O, sir, disparage not your worth too much; You are full of quality and faire desert.
1889. Tyrwhitt, in Universal Rev., Feb., 251. One sharp temptation well resisted, be it of pain or pleasure, shows real moral quality.
1894. Sir Ev. Wood, in Daily News, 1 Oct., 6/2. He [Capt. Peel] had a singularly striking appearance, showing both in face and figure what is termed, in describing well-bred horses, as ‘quality.’
2. A mental or moral attribute, trait or characteristic; a feature of one’s character; † a habit.
1533. Frith, Answ. More, To Rdr., Wks. (1573), 4. A frende beholdeth all qualities and circumstaunces, his byrth, bringyng vp, and what feates hee hath done all hys lyfe long.
1551. R. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., Ep. Cecil (Arb.), 15. Youre godlye dysposytyon, and vertuous qualytyes.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 43. I hate not man, but man’s lewd qualities.
1689–90. Temple, Ess. Heroic Virtue, Wks. 1731, I. 203. Particular Qualities have been observed … in the same Families for several hundred Years, as Goodness, Clemency [etc.].
1783. Cowper, Valediction, 31. In thee some virtuous qualities combine To fit thee for a nobler part.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 163. Nature had largely endowed William with the qualities of a great ruler.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1876), I. [II.] I. i. 30. The subtlety and perfidy, which … were the qualities of his … countrymen.
b. An accomplishment or attainment.
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, V. i. Diog. What can thy sons do? Syl. You shall see their qualities. Dance, sirrah!
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 125. I haue bred her at my deerest cost In Qualities of the best.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1707), II. II. VIII. 507 (J.). He [had] … those Qualities of Horsemanship, Dancing, and Fencing, which accompany a good breeding.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Err., 423. A just deportment, manners graced with ease,… Are qualities that seem to comprehend [etc.].
1882. Daily Tel., 17 May, 3/7. The fielding of the Australians … fully justified the high reputation for this quality which the representative colonial teams … have enjoyed.
c. Law. A special or characteristic feature.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 155. A tenant in tail … has eight qualities or privileges.
3. Rank or position in (a) society. Now rare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3303. Lo! so þe quele of qwistsumnes my qualite has changid.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 162. To consider … the state and the qualitee of the persouns.
1571. G. Buchanan, Admonition (S.T.S.), 21. It may seame … that I … pas myne estait, being of sa meane qualitie.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. viii. 350. Sometimes this minister had other different habites, according to the quallitie of the dead.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, Pref. (1686), 2. Readers of Poesie (which are commonly Persons of the best Quality).
1726. De Foe, Hist. Devil, II. v. (1840), 235. The priests of Apollo were sometimes of no mean quality.
1823. Scott, Peveril, i. A gentleman of middling quality.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 1528. What quality, what style and title, eh?
fig. 1791. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Remonstrance, Wks. 1812, II. 453. Hunger … Is reckon’d now a fellow of bad quality: Not deem’d a gentleman.
† b. concr. A body of persons of a certain rank. Obs. rare–1.
1636. E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, I. 16. It was compos’d only of two of these forenamed qualities, that is to say, of the Principality and Nobility.
4. Nobility, high birth or rank, good social position; chiefly in phr. man, woman, gentleman, lady, person, people of quality. Now arch.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1595), 875. He had all the men of qualitie his sworne enemies.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Trav. (Arb.), 523. Let him … procure Recommendation, to some person of Quality.
1671. Lady Mary Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 22. There are no men of quality but the Duke of Monmouth; all the rest are gentlemen.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 18. My new friend was a thief of quality, and a pickpocket above the ordinary rank.
1771. Mackenzie, Man Feel., xl. (1803), 85. The count, for he was of quality, was solicitous to return the obligation.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 273. Many persons of quality sate the whole day in their carriages.
1871. Morley, Vauvenargues, in Crit. Misc., Ser. I. (1878), 9. High enough to command the admiration of people of quality.
b. concr. People of good social position. Now arch. or vulgar and dial.
1693. Humours Town, 114. Walk Bare-headed to his Master’s Daughter, in imitation of Quality.
1706. Estcourt, Fair Examp., V. i. Did not you tell me … that you was acquainted with all the Quality.
1753. Richardson, Sir C. Grandison, III. ii. (1781), 15. I have looked out among the quality for a future husband for her.
1769. Wesley, in Wks., 1872, III. 370. A large company of Quality (as they called them) came.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. lxiv. She was country born and bred And knew no better … Than to wax white—for blushes are for quality.
1843. Lever, J. Hinton, xl. I was standing,… among all the grand generals and the quality.
1889. John Bull, 2 March, 142/2. He was fond of quality, and quality was very fond o’ him.
† 5. Profession, occupation, business, esp. that of an actor. b. Fraternity; those of the same profession; esp. actors as a body. Obs.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxiv. 88. The rest of craftis gryt aithis swair … Ilk ane into thair qualitie.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. i. 58. A Linguist, and a man of such perfection, As we doe in our quality much want.
1603. J. Davies, Microcosmos, 215. Players, I love yee, and your Qualitie.
1625. Fletcher, Fair Maid of Inn, V. ii. I am weary of this trade of fortune-telling,… it is a very ticklish quality.
1626. Massinger, Rom. Actor, I. iii. (1629), C j. In thee, as being the chiefe of thy profession, I doe accuse the qualitie of treason.
1633. in A. W. Ward, Hist. Dram. Lit., II. 324. It may serve … for the improvement of the quality, which hath received some brushings of late.
† c. Party, side. Obs. rare–1.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. iii. 36. Because you are not of our qualitie, But stand against vs like an Enemie.
6. Title, description, character, capacity. Freq. in phr. in (the) quality of. Now rare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26682. Man agh to telle hir qualite, sib or freind or quat sco be.
a. 1626. Bacon, Adv. to Villiers, in Wks. (1803), III. 441 (J.). The attorney of the duchy of Lancaster, who partakes of both qualities, partly of a judge in that court, and partly of an attorney-general.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 38. Maximilian … came to the King, in the quality of his Soldier.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. iii. 157/338. Beside all this, he serv’d his Master In quality of Poetaster.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 127, ¶ 1. Such Packets as I receive under the Quality of Spectator.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), IX. 66. They paid respect to his quality of deputy.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxx. Leicester … rode on her Majesty’s right hand … in quality of her host.
1864. D. G. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 82. To understand that I had come in the professed quality of Consul.
† b. A part or character (acted). Obs. rare–1.
1566. Adlington, Apuleius, 109. When the people was desirous to see me play qualities, they caused the gates to be shutte, and such as entred in shoulde pay.
II. Of things.
7. An attribute, property, special feature or characteristic. Primary, secondary, etc., qualities: see the adjs. Of a ship: (see quot. 1867).
1340. Ayenb., 153. To þe bodye of man comeþ alle eueles uor þe destempringe of þise uour qualites oþer of þise uour humours.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1539), 33 a. But nowe to the qualities of water.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. A iv b. The qualites of it answer nothing unto the qualyties of wormwode pontyke in Galene.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, VI. xiii. 459. According to the qualities and wealth of the Countrie.
1671. R. Bohun, Wind, 165. The judgment to be made concerning the Qualitys of Winds … is very various and fallible.
1725. Watts, Logic, I. iii. § 4. Ideas, with Regard to their Qualities,… are either clear and distinct, or obscure and confused [etc.].
1854. L. Lloyd, Scandinavian Adv., I. 231. The eatable qualities of the Bothnian salmon.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Qualities, the register of the ship’s trim, sailing, stowage, &c., all of which are necessary to her behaviour.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 236. Every high quality of art consists either in some expression of what is decent … or of what is bright.
† b. A manner, style. (Cf. 9 b.) Obs. rare.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 6. Hate counsailes not in such a qualitie.
1651. Fuller’s Abel Rediv., Cowper (1867), II. 307. The parishioners … built and adorned the church in as good a quality as any round about it.
† c. A habit; a power or faculty. Obs. rare.
1647. Fuller, Good Th. in Worse T. (1841), 98. Jordan had a quality in the first month to overflow all his banks.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, b iij a. If it had a speaking quality, your Grace would hear its … Alembick sing the Gold its joy.
† d. Concretely: A substance of a certain nature; an essence. Obs. rare.
1704. Swift, Batt. Bk., Misc. (1711), 257. An atramentous Quality, of most malignant Nature, was seen to distil from his Lips.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 21. The wood … throws out its volatile qualities, aquæous and acidulous, into the respective tubes.
8. The nature, kind or character (of something). Now restricted to cases in which there is comparison (expressed or implied) with other things of the same kind; hence, the degree or grade of excellence, etc., possessed by a thing. † In the quality of: (cf. 6).
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. Prol. 31. Ye knowe al þilke couered qualite Of þing which þat folk on wondren so.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 59. A man may gyffe no couenable penaunce bot if he knawe þe qualitee and þe quantitee of þe synne.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIII. (Percy Soc.), 106. After the qualyte it doth take effecte.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 8. An other liquid Medicine I haue: whose Qualitie is heate, in the first degree.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., I. iv. (1662), 22. It is so little I know of mine own soul, either its quiddity or quality.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 237. This flying Plague (to mark its quality;) Oestros the Grecians call: Asylus, we.
1794. J. Hutton, Philos. Light, etc. 272. This principle of fire moves, in the quality of light, with the most amazing velocity.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Prudence, Wks. (Bohn), I. 95. There is more difference in the quality of our pleasures than in the amount.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), III. ix. 142. The perfection of cunning is to conceal its own quality.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, viii. 114. It is on account of the quality, rather than the size, of English print, that it is usually so much pleasanter to read than American.
† b. Nature, with reference to origin; hence, cause, occasion. Obs. rare.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. i. 44. Giue him note of our approach, With the whole quality whereof, I feare We shall be much vnwelcome. Ibid. (1607), Timon, III. vi. 117. Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury?
9. Without article: a. That aspect of things under which they are considered in thinking or speaking of their nature, condition or properties.
The notion of quality includes all the attributes of a thing, except those of relation and quantity: ‘Quality’ is the third of the Aristotelian categories.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1539), 16 b. Qualitie … is the state thereof, as Hotte or cold, moist or dry.
1656. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. v. 70. If quality be void of matter, it must likewise be void of corporeity.
1727. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The antient school-philosophers distinguish quality in the general … into essential and accidental.
1829. Jas. Mill, Hum. Mind (1869), II. xiv. II. 60. Quality is used as the generical name of every thing in objects, for which a separate notation is required.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Metaph., 45. The question is renewed as to the actual essence which … lies behind this surface of Quality.
b. Gram. Manner of action (cf. 7 b), as denoted by an adverb; chiefly in phr. adverb of quality.
1530. Palsgr., Introd., 38. The frenche men … forme theyr adverbes of qualite by addynge to of ment. Ibid., 144. Some [adverbs] betoken qualite, and serve to declare … howe a dede is done.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Eng. Gram., I. xxi. All adverbs of quality … being formed from nouns, for the most part, by adding ly.
1845. Stoddart, in Encycl. Metrop. (1847), I. 122/1. There is no difference in grammatical use between … an adverb of quantity, and an adverb or quality.
1872. Morris, Eng. Accidence, xiv. 193.
c. Peculiar excellence or superiority. (Cf. 1 c.)
1874. R. Tyrwhitt, Sketch. Club, 255. Quality of colour means purity or truth of hue.
1891. Speaker, 2 May, 533/1. The book … has … more quality and distinction than four-fifths of the novels which come under our notice.
10. In special uses (of senses 8 and 9).
a. Logic. Of propositions: The condition of being affirmative or negative. Of concepts: Comparative clearness or distinctness.
1594. Blundevil, Arte Logicke, III. i. (Cent.). How is a simple proposition divided according to qualitie? Into an affirmative and negative proposition.
1697. trans. Burgersdicius his Logic, I. xxx. 117. In Regard of Quality, it is, that an Enunciation is divided … into Affirming and Denying.
1725. Watts, Logic (1726), 156. If two Universals differ in Quality they are Contraries.
1837–8. Sir W. Hamilton, Lect. Logic, ix. (1860), I. 158. It is this perfection or imperfection which constitutes the logical Quality of a concept.
1843. Mill, Logic, II. ii. § 1 (1856), 189. What are called the quantity and quality of the propositions.
1864. Bowen, Logic, v. 120. We thus ascertain the Quality of the Judgment, or whether it is affirmative or negative.
b. Law. Of an estate: The manner in which it is to be held or enjoyed.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 354. The alteration in the particular estate, which would destroy a contingent remainder, must amount to an alteration in its quantity, and not in its quality.
1841. Penny Cycl., XIX. 46/1.
c. Physics. That which distinguishes sounds quantitatively the same; timbre.
1865. Q. Jrnl. Sc., 592. Though [certain sounds are] the same for musical purposes, in all other respects the quality is different.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., vii. 183. The quality of a voice-treble, bass, tenor, &c.
1881. Broadhouse, Mus. Acoustics, 77. The most uncultivated ear would perceive a difference of quality.
11. A particular class, kind or grade of anything, as determined by its quality.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 324. 2s. 5d. for spinning the same quality.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xiii. (1878), 253. A quality of dialogue which indicated thought.
III. † 12. = QUALIFICATION 1. Sc. Obs. rare.
1622. Burgh Rec. Aberdeen (Spald. Cl.), II. 375. The said Mr. James Ross … acceptit of the said stipend with the qualitie and conditioun aboue mentioned.
1714. W. Forbes, Jrnl. Sess., Pref. 7. Advocates admitted with a quality that they should not take in hand to plead in any … difficult cause without … assistance.
IV. 13. attrib. and Comb. (chiefly sense 4), as quality-acquaintance, -air, -blood, -end, -friend, horse, lady, living, -pride, etc.; quality-like, -mad, adjs.; quality-binding, a kind of worsted tape for binding carpets (Jam., 1808).
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, vi. (1596), 77. Neither the vnderstanding, nor any other accident, can be qualitilike.
1701. Farquhar, Sir H. Wildair, II. i. Wks. (Rtldg.), 545. I thought something was the matter; I wanted of quality-air.
1706. Estcourt, Fair Examp., I. i. 10. Your Quality Lady, when she speaks, ’tis thus.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), II. lxviii. 238. The influence of Peregrine’s new quality-friends. Ibid., III. lxxxii. 274. Peregrine found some ladies of his quality-acquaintance.
1768. Woman of Honor, I. 134. She is so stark quality-mad.
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 233. My Lady’s passion for quality living.
1819. [E. S. Barrett], Metropolis, III. 149–50. They quite rival the quality-end of the town.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. ii. Young … men, with quality-blood in them, poisoned with quality-pride.
1891. Field, 7 March, 334/2. Quite a quality horse is Gratian.
Hence Qualityless a., having no quality or qualities; Qualityship, social position (nonce-wd.).
1859. Mozley, Ess., Indian Convers. (1878), II. 313. Brahm is a motionless, characterless, qualityless, colourless essence.
1865. Dublin University Mag., I. 6. He dressed with regard to his qualityship.
1893. J. Orr, Chr. View God & W., iv. 146. An absolutely qualityless matter … is unthinkable.
