Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “quaint” come from?

Quaint derives from Middle English queynte, from Old English cunte, from Latin cognitus meaning "known," combined with the suffix -ivus and the prefix con-, ultimately from Latin com meaning "together."

quaint (English): Of a person: cunning, crafty; Cleverly made;...

Definitions

  1. Of a person: cunning, crafty; Cleverly made;...

Ancestry of “quaint”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishqueynteintelligent, smart, well-thought, sagacious,...
2Anglo-Normancointeclever; intelligent
3Latincognitusknown , recognised, having been recognised;...
4Latincognōscere—
5Latinco-allomorph of con-
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “quaint”

  • quaintly
  • quaintness
  • quaintish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →