quodlibet

[ kwod-luh-bet ]

noun

1. a subtle or elaborate argument or point of debate, usually on a theological or scholastic subject.
2. Music. a humorous composition consisting of two or more independent and harmonically complementary melodies, usually quotations of well-known tunes, played or sung together, usually to different texts, in a polyphonic arrangement.

quodlibet

/ ˈkwɒdlɪˌbɛt /

noun

1. a light piece of music based on two or more popular tunes
2. a subtle argument, esp one prepared as an exercise on a theological topic

Derived Forms

• ˌquodliˈbetical, adjective
• ˌquodliˈbetically, adverb

Other Words From

• quodli·betic quodli·beti·cal adjective
• quodli·beti·cl·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of quodlibet¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin noun quodlibētum “whatever subject you like,” from Latin indefinite pronoun and adjective quod libet “what(ever) pleases, as you please”

Word History and Origins

Origin of quodlibet¹

C14: from Latin, from quod what + libet pleases, that is, whatever you like

Example Sentences

Maybe it was the night’s full moon, but what are the odds that this concerto, which not only quotes a spiritual, ends with the obscure Baroque form of a quodlibet?

From Los Angeles Times

Hoffmann, in the mean time, had seated himself at the harpsichord, and drew a quodlibet from the most varied Burschen songs, leaping from one to the other, and interweaving phantasy-pieces between them.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, for the sake of the equine quodlibet, he wanted to bid in my miserable sorrel, who, to tell the truth, wore nowhere any hair of his own, except behind on the bob.

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose you saw his last quodlibet with the sheriff's portrait, and the autographs of all the magistrates, and with a few bank-notes mixed up with them.

From Project Gutenberg

And this he is not contented to maintain himself, but he will needs father it upon his antagonist by such logic, forsooth, as can infer quidlibet ex quodlibet.

From Project Gutenberg