quies

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷi.eːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷiː.es]^[1]

Forms

quiēs f (genitive quiētis); third declension^[1] Laevius and Naevius have the ablative quiē.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *kʷiē-ti-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kʷieh₁-ti- (“rest, peace”), from an aorist Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”).^[2] The perfect of quiēscō probably continues the PIE root aorist.^[2] Cognate with Old Persian šiyāti- (“welfare, peace”), Old Church Slavonic почити (počiti, “to rest”) and Old Norse hvíla (“bed”).^[2][4] tranquillus “calm” is from the same root.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus says he put gain before sleep and rest.^[4][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was the repose of sleep, rest from toil, as Cicero's rest of old age, and in poetry the sleep of death, quiēs aeterna.^[4][6] It was inaction or idleness, and calm or peaceful conduct, and in poetry a dream.^[4][1] Döderlein says it is complete rest, against tranquillitās, calm in acting.^[7] Livy mentions Quies, Rest personified as a goddess.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was a peaceful existence and the quiet of the religious life.^[8] Through quiētus it gave English quiet, coy and quit.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of sleep.^[4][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero calls death a rest from toil.^[6][5]
• c. 1300 – English quiet “calm” is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. Sleep, repose.^[4][1]
2. Rest, relief from toil; peace.^[4][1]
3. (poetic) The sleep of death.^[4]
4. Inaction, idleness; calm.^[4]
5. (poetic) A dream.^[1]

Word family

• inquiēs
• quiētūdō
• quiēscō
• quiētālis
• requiēs

Related words

• quiētus
• tranquillus
• English quiet
• English coy
• English quit

Usage notes

An old adjective quiēs “quiet” appears in Naevius.^[3][6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com