quality English · revision 3438

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la quālis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkwɒl.ə.ti/, US /ˈkwɑː.lə.ti/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|qualite]], [[bor|fro|qualité|t=quality, nature, characteristic]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|quālitās|t=a quality, property; nature]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) said to have been coined by Cicero to translate Greek [[m|grc|ποιότης|tr=poiótēs]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|quālis|t=of what kind]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[ine-pro|*kʷo-|alt=*kwo-]], the stem of relative and interrogative pronouns.^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Latin ''quālis'' is also the source of [[qualify]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Character, disposition, nature: about 1290,^(OED 1989) or about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ For a long time the word was used with awareness of its place in Aristotelian philosophy.^(Etymonline) An inherent attribute and a degree of excellence are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart dates the grade of excellence before 1396.^(Barnhart 1988) A property of a thing is from 1340.^(HTOED) Social rank is from about 1400, hence “nobility, gentry”,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''the quality'', the upper classes, survived in dialect speech.^(Wright 1898) A distinguishing excellence is from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) The adjective use, “of high quality”, is from 1936 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) ''Quality control'' is from 1935, ''quality of life'' from 1943, and ''quality time'' by 1977.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – character, disposition.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – a property.^(HTOED)

+ * late 14th century – an attribute; a degree of excellence.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – social rank.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – a distinguishing excellence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – ''quality control''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1936 – adjective.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1977 – ''quality time''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A distinguishing characteristic or property; a personal trait.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Essential character; nature.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Degree or grade of excellence; superiority of kind.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' High social position; people of high rank.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The [[timbre]] of a sound.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of high quality; excellent.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[qualityless]]

+ * [[nonquality]]

+ * [[subquality]]

+ * [[qualitative]]

+ * [[letter-quality]]

+ * [[quality assurance]]

+ * [[quality circle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[qualify]]

+ * [[quantity]]

+ * [[what]]

+ * [[who]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''quality'' with ''property'', ''attribute'', ''character'' and ''trait'': ''quality'' is the most inclusive.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}