qua

[ kwey, kwah ]

adverb

1. as; as being; in the character or capacity of:

   The work of art qua art can be judged by aesthetic criteria only.

qua

/ kwɑː; kweɪ /

preposition

1. in the capacity of; by virtue of being

Word History and Origins

Origin of qua¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin quā, feminine ablative singular of the relative pronoun quī who

Word History and Origins

Origin of qua¹

C17: from Latin, ablative singular (feminine) of qui who

Example Sentences

What I did in the meantime — because I knew that I had to be there and eat the food, and know the people, and that was sine qua non.

From Los Angeles Times

Impartiality is the sine qua non for any jurist, therefore, the privilege of a lifetime appointment requires strict avoidance of even the slightest appearance of partisanship.

From Salon

The Mary Chain’s albums “Psychocandy,” “Darklands” and “Automatic” became the sine qua non of the 1980s alternative rock movement and carried the band well into the ’90s.

From Los Angeles Times

But a first hostage deal “is the sine qua non of the administration’s larger regional deal,” said Martin S. Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel.

From New York Times

For those actors who consider crying to be the sine qua non of their art, a sorrowful biography offers a distinct advantage in the Method acting sweepstakes.

From Los Angeles Times