Definition: quit

Search dictionary for

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

quit
     adj : (usually followed by `of') released from something onerous
           (especially an obligation or duty); "quit of all
           further responsibility for their safety"; "well rid of
           him" [syn: quit, rid]
     v 1: put an end to a state or an activity; "Quit teasing your
          little brother" [syn: discontinue, stop, cease, give
          up, lay off] [ant: continue]
     2: resign or retire from a position; "The Secretary fo the Navy
        will leave office next month" [syn: leave office, step
        down] [ant: take office]
     3: go away or leave [syn: depart, take leave] [ant: stay]
     4: turn away from; give up; "I am foreswearing women forever"
        [syn: foreswear, renounce, relinquish]
     5: give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat;
        "In the second round, the challenger gave up" [syn: drop
        out, give up, throw in, throw in the towel, chuck
        up the sponge] [ant: enter]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Quit \Quit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quit or Quitted; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Quitting.] [OE. quiten, OF. quiter, quitier,
   cuitier, F. quitter, to acquit, quit, LL. quietare, fr. L.
   quietare to calm, to quiet, fr. quietus quiet. See Quiet,
   a., and cf. Quit, a., Quite, Acquit, Requite.]
   1. To set at rest; to free, as from anything harmful or
      oppressive; to relieve; to clear; to liberate. [R.]

            To quit you of this fear, you have already looked
            Death in the face; what have you found so terrible
            in it?                                --Wake.

   2. To release from obligation, accusation, penalty, or the
      like; to absolve; to acquit.

            There may no gold them quyte.         --Chaucer.

            God will relent, and quit thee all his debt.
                                                  --Milton.

   3. To discharge, as an obligation or duty; to meet and
      satisfy, as a claim or debt; to make payment for or of; to
      requite; to repay.

            The blissful martyr quyte you your meed. --Chaucer.

            Enkindle all the sparks of nature To quit this
            horrid act.                           --Shak.

            Before that judge that quits each soul his hire.
                                                  --Fairfax.

   4. To meet the claims upon, or expectations entertained of;
      to conduct; to acquit; -- used reflexively.

            Be strong, and quit yourselves like men. --I Sam.
                                                  iv. 9.

            Samson hath guit himself Like Samson. --Milton.

   5. To carry through; to go through to the end. [Obs.]

            Never worthy prince a day did quit With greater
            hazard and with more renown.          --Daniel.

   6. To have done with; to cease from; to stop; hence, to
      depart from; to leave; to forsake; as, to quit work; to
      quit the place; to quit jesting.

            Such a superficial way of examining is to quit truth
            for appearance.                       --Locke.

   To quit cost, to pay; to reimburse.

   To quit scores, to make even; to clear mutually from
      demands.

            Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements
            in the noble fruits that issue from it? --South.

   Syn: To leave; relinquish; resign; abandon; forsake;
        surrender; discharge; requite.

   Usage: Quit, Leave. Leave is a general term, signifying
          merely an act of departure; quit implies a going
          without intention of return, a final and absolute
          abandonment.
Quit \Quit\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
   Any one of numerous species of small passerine birds native
   of tropical America. See Banana quit, under Banana, and
   Guitguit.
Quit \Quit\, a. [OE. quite, OF. quite, F. quitte. See Quit,
   v., Quirt.]
   Released from obligation, charge, penalty, etc.; free; clear;
   absolved; acquitted. --Chaucer.

         The owner of the ox shall be quit.       --Ex. xxi. 28.

   Note: This word is sometimes used in the form quits,
         colloquially; as, to be quits with one, that is, to
         have made mutual satisfaction of demands with him; to
         be even with him; hence, as an exclamation: Quits! we
         are even, or on equal terms. ``To cry quits with the
         commons in their complaints.'' --Fuller.
Quit \Quit\, v. i.
   To away; to depart; to stop doing a thing; to cease.
Guitguit \Guit"guit`\, n. [So called from its note.] (Zo["o]l.)
   One of several species of small tropical American birds of
   the family C[oe]rebid[ae], allied to the creepers; --
   called also quit. See Quit.