From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Quality \Qual"i*ty\, noun; pl. {Qualities}. [F. qualit['e], L. qualitas, fr. qualis how constituted, as; akin to E. which. See {Which}.]
1. The condition of being of such and such a sort as distinguished from others; nature or character relatively considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank.
We lived most joyful, obtaining acquaintance with many of the city not of the meanest quality. --Bacon
2. Special or temporary character; profession; occupation; assumed or asserted rank, part, or position.
I made that inquiry in quality of an antiquary. --Gray.
3. That which makes, or helps to make, anything such as it is; anything belonging to a subject, or predicable of it; distinguishing property, characteristic, or attribute; peculiar power, capacity, or virtue; distinctive trait; as, the tones of a flute differ from those of a violin in quality; the great quality of a statesman.
Note: Qualities, in metaphysics, are primary or secondary. Primary are those essential to the existence, and even the conception, of the thing, as of matter or spirit Secondary are those not essential to such a conception.
4. An acquired trait; accomplishment; acquisition.
He had those qualities of horsemanship, dancing, and fencing which accompany a good breeding. --Clarendon.
5. Superior birth or station; high rank; elevated character. "Persons of quality." --Bacon.
{Quality binding}, a kind of worsted tape used in Scotland for binding carpets, and the like.
{The quality}, those of high rank or station, as distinguished from {the masses}, or common people; the nobility; the gentry.
I shall appear at the masquerade dressed up in my feathers, that the quality may see how pretty they will look in their traveling habits. --Addison.
Syn: Property; attribute; nature; peculiarity; character; sort; rank; disposition; temper.
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
adjective
1: of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn: {choice}, {prime(a)}, {prize}, {quality}, {select}]
2: of high social status; "people of quality"; "a quality family"
noun
1: an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"-- Shakespeare
2: a degree or grade of excellence or worth; "the quality of students has risen"; "an executive of low caliber" [syn: {quality}, {caliber}, {calibre}]
3: a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something; "each town has a quality all its own"; "the radical character of our demands" [syn: {quality}, {character}, {lineament}]
4: (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet" [syn: {timbre}, {timber}, {quality}, {tone}]
5: high social status; "a man of quality"
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