Also 4–6 quyet(e, quiete, 7 quiett. [ad. L. quiēt-, stem of quiēs rest, repose, quiet. An AF. quiete may have existed beside quieté QUIETY.]
1. Absence of disturbance or tumult; peaceful condition of affairs in social or political life.
13[?]. Cursor M., 29341 (Cott. Galba). [Cursed] er þai þat robbes or reues on ani side, Whare pese and quiet suld bityde.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 519. Þe quyet of our lord Ihesu, luk in vnreste ȝe turne nocht now.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XX. xvii. In this realme wyll be now no quyete but euer stryf and debate.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 27 § 119. Lawes and ordinaunces for the … good quiet of his saide dominion of Wales.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlvi. 380. To whom the care of the Publick quiet is committed.
1763. Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 43. Why is not the nation’s quiet secured, and its independance asserted?
1874. Bancroft, Footpr. Time, i. 104. A long period of almost absolute quiet followed the establishment of the empire.
personified. 1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 41. Carelesse Quiet lyes, Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes.
1632. Milton, Penseroso, 45. Join with thee calm Peace, and Quiet, Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet.
1754. Gray, Pleasure, 53. Humble quiet builds her cell.
b. Absence of noise or (rapid) motion; calmness, stillness.
a. 1400. Stockh. Medical MS. ii. 382, in Anglia, XVIII. 316. Ageyn cowrs of watyr wyll he flete, Ȝif þe water renne in good quiete.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. i. Wks. 1856, I. 73. No breath disturbs the quiet of the ayre.
1816. Shelley, Alastor, 393. A smooth spot Of glassy quiet mid those battling tides is left.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., iii. (1880), 51. It was only the quiet that preceded the outbreak of another storm.
2. Freedom from external disturbance, molestation, interruption or noise; † freedom from work or occupation; rest, repose.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 9128. Whare alle ryghtwyse men salle won at ees, In ioyfulle quyete, and rest, and pese.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 249. Lat me nat reste nor have no quyete, Occupye my soule with spiritual travayl.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxxx. 156. This foresayd countesse … with her sonne … was in quyete of theyr countrey and castell.
1592. Greene, Conny catching, III. 12. She seeing him laid in bed … commits him to his quiet.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 26. I have too much care of my own quiet, to goe about to trouble his.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VIII. xi. An arrant vixen of a wife soured his domestic quiet.
1865. Hook, Lives Abps., III. 301. It often happens that a man, turbulent in his youth, will make great sacrifices to procure peace and quiet in his old age.
pl. 1650. Weldon, Crt. Jas. I., 185. More beneficiall to the Subjects in respect of their quiets.
b. Freedom from mental agitation or excitement; calm or peace of mind.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 421. As wondrous quiet and peaceableness, and calmness in the heart.
1688. Lady R. Russell, Lett., I. lxxi. 156. Such letters as yours, Sir, do not disturb my quiet.
1726. Swift, Corr., Wks. 1841, II. 586/2. An accident that must be so fatal to my quiet.
1840. Lady C. Bury, Hist. of Flirt, vi. A matter that concerns my quiet.
3. The condition of remaining quiet, of refraining from disturbance, hurry, exertion, etc.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Henry VI., vii. My mynde to quyet bent, had not bene tossed so.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXXXI. None more [than me] for quiet might compare Ev’n with the babe.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. v. 343. That God was a great Lord, who with great quiet and leasure performeth his workes.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 74, ¶ 12. Knowledge and genius are often enemies to quiet, by suggesting ideas of excellence.
1889. Pater, G. de Latour (1896), 41. How becomingly … that self-respecting quiet sat upon their high-bred figures.
4. Freq. in phrases at, † in, and † out of quiet, with vbs. of being, remaining, maintaining, etc.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 121. God … garte the heuene to stekye and stonden in quiete.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. vi. 46. An evel conscience is euer dredful and oute of quiete.
1533. Frith, Another Bk. agst. Rastell, Prol. (1573), 61. They could neuer be at quiet … untill they had dronken his bloud.
1577. Test. 12 Patriarchs (1604), 101. Bear your losses willingly, and be not out of quiet for it.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., i. (1700), 21. Every part of it is at quiet till it is put in motion.
1771. T. Jefferson, Writ. (ed. Ford), II. 129. Matters … are too much in quiet to send you news from hence.
1830. Scott, Demonol., viii. 266. The country remained at quiet.
1886. Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll, 54. Mr. Utterson began … to grow more at quiet with himself.
† b. With adjs., esp. at (a) good (or better) quiet.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 587. The ost he maid in gud quyet to be.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 62. The other Christian Princes also being at no better quiet.
1652. Cotterell, Cassandra, IV. (1676), 68. He began to be at a little better quiet.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 30 June. My differences with my uncle Thomas at a good quiett, blessed be God!
