English
quit
Quit comes from Anglo-Norman quitter, from Old French quitte ‘free, acquitted’, ultimately from Latin quiētus ‘at rest’, from quiēscō ‘to rest’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷyeh₁-‘to rest’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEquiēscō‘to rest, repose’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEquiētus‘at rest, quiet’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400quitte‘acquitted, free’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400quitter‘to release, quit’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quiten
- Englishearliest quotation 1485quit
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷyeh₁-‘to rest’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEquiēscō‘to rest, repose’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEquiētus‘at rest, quiet’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400quitte‘acquitted, free’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400quitter‘to release, quit’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quiten
- Englishearliest quotation 1485quit
Earliest quotation: 1485, Sir Thomas Malory: “I was but late att a Iustynge and there…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- ‘to rest’
while, whilst, coy, tranquil, requiem, quiescent, 19 more
through Latin quietus ‘at rest/nap, quiet, keeping quiet, quietude,…’
Today it means
adj Released from obligation, penalty, etc; free, clear, or rid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- / quit