quietus

[ kwahy-ee-tuhs ]

noun

, plural qui·e·tus·es.

1. a finishing stroke; anything that effectually ends or settles:

   Having given a quietus to the argument, she left.

2. discharge or release from life.
3. a period of retirement or inactivity.

quietus

/ -ˈeɪtəs; kwaɪˈiːtəs /

noun

1. anything that serves to quash, eliminate, or kill

   to give the quietus to a rumour

2. a release from life; death
3. the discharge or settlement of debts, duties, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of quietus¹

1530–40; < Medieval Latin quiētus quit (in quiētus est (he) is quit, a formula of acquittance), Latin: (he) is quiet, at rest ( quiet ); quit ¹ (adj.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of quietus¹

C16: from Latin quiētus est, literally: he is at rest, quiet

Example Sentences

Kg5, and now, with both Black rooks hanging, a simple king move delivers the quietus.

From Washington Times

Instead, it was a much quicker quietus after 19.

From Washington Times

"Whom would fardels bear under such a weary and long life.... when he could his quietus make with a bare bodkin?"

From New York Times

What’s most disheartening is how unspectacular a quietus it turns out to be.

From The New Yorker

Last night also put the quietus to that numbing “small ball” we kept hearing from the game announcers all summer, in a season dominated by enormous heat-radiating relievers and resulting low scores and shrivelled offense.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• death
• decease
• dying