quaint etymology

Etymology:

The word "quaint" comes from the Old French word "coint," meaning "refined" or "elegant." It was first used in English in the mid-15th century.

Meaning:

• Charming in an old-fashioned or unusual way
• Peculiar or unusual in a way that is interesting or attractive, though possibly also a bit strange or odd
• Archaic or antiquated

Origin:

The Proto-Indo-European root of "quaint" is *(s)kw-, which means "to turn" or "to bend." This root is also found in other words such as "queer," "skew," and "quirky."

The evolution of the word "quaint" from its Indo-European origins to its modern meaning is as follows:

• *(s)kw- > Old French "coint" (refined, elegant)
• Old French "coint" > Middle English "queynt" (odd, strange)
• Middle English "queynt" > Modern English "quaint" (charmingly old-fashioned or unusual)

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