adv. and pref. [L. quasi as if, as it were, almost.] I. In limiting sense.
1. Used parenthetically = ‘as it were,’ ‘almost,’ ‘virtually.’ rare.
In Caxton after F. quasi (15th c., from It. or L.).
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 30. Whereof he was moche angry, and quasi half in despair. Ibid., Chas. Gt., 204. After that charles had the domynacyon quasi in al espayne.
1692. T. Watson, Body of Div., 97. Men come quasi armed in Coat of Male, that the Sword of the Word will not enter.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 184. This devolution … is quasi a descent per formam doni.
2. In close connection with the word following; hence usually treated as a prefix and hyphened.
a. With sbs.: (A) kind of; resembling or simulating, but not really the same as, that properly so termed.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 49. An Empyriall Heaven, a quasi vacuitie.
1676. R. Dixon, Two Testaments, 30. The reason why God confirmed his Testament … is, because this was an act of his Quasi-dying.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In a quasi-contract, one party may be bound … without having given his consent. Ibid., The reparation of quasi-crimes.
1815. J. Adams, Wks. (1856), X. 151. A … plot … to draw me into a decided instead of a quasi war with France.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VI. iv. The art, or quasi-art, of standing in tail.
1864. Kingsley, Rom. & Teut., iii. (1875), 91. Romans, with Greek names who become quasi-emperors.
1889. Swinburne, Stud. B. Jonson, 47. The epithalamium of these quasi-nuptials is fine.
b. With adjs., more rarely with advbs. or vbs.: Seemingly, or in appearance, but not really; almost, nearly, virtually.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 149. Falsehood in this quasi-colloquial shape, as well as in the shape of ordinary discourse.
1826. Southey, Vind. Eccl. Angl., 394. We neither deify nor quasi-deify the head of our Church.
1836. Sir H. Taylor, Statesman, viii. 50. His functions in these cases are quasi-judicial.
1861. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), II. 80. The independent and quasi-Episcopal position of the rector.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. lxxiv. 610. Public or quasi-public organisms.
II. 3. Introducing an etymological explanation of a word: ‘As if it were’ (Abbreviated q., qu.: see Q. II. 1.)
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. ii. 85. Master person, quasi Pers-on.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 82 (1811), 81. Culme, so called, as some say, quasi Calme.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 419. They are more properly call’d Almanacks, quasi Al-mon-aght.
1826. Scott, Woodstock, Note 3. Rere-suppers (quasi arrière) belonged to a species of luxury [etc.].
1866. Lowell, Biglow P., Wks. (1880), 181/2. The Earls of Wilbraham (quasi wild boar ham).
