Part 714

Shak.

5. To soothe; to cure; -- said of persons. [Obs.]

In short space he has them qualified.

Spenser.

Syn. -- To fit; equip; prepare; adapt; capacitate; enable; modify; soften; restrict; restrain; temper.

Qual"i*fy, v. i. 1. To be or become qualified; to be fit, as for an office or employment.

2. To obtain legal power or capacity by taking the oath, or complying with the forms required, on assuming an office.

Qual"i*ta*tive (?), a. [Cf. LL. gualitativus, F. qualitatif.] Relating to quality; having the character of quality. -- Qual"i*ta*tive*ly, adv.

Qualitative analysis (Chem.), analysis which merely determines the constituents of a substance without any regard to the quantity of each ingredient; -- contrasted with quantitative analysis.

Qual"i*tied (?), a. Furnished with qualities; endowed. [Obs.] "He was well qualitied." Chapman.

Qual"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Qualities (#). [F. qualitÈ, 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.

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.

Qualm (?), n. [AS. cwealm death, slaughter, pestilence, akin to OS. & OHG. qualm. See Quail to cower.] 1. Sickness; disease; pestilence; death. [Obs.]

thousand slain and not of qualm ystorve .