Part 716

Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are connected, either in succession, as in time, motion, etc., or in extension, as by the dimensions of space, viz., length, breadth, and thickness.

3. A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or bulk; a certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount; a large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in quantities, that is, in large quantities.

The quantity of extensive and curious information which he had picked up during many months of desultory, but not unprofitable, study.

Macaulay.

Quantity of estate (Law), its time of continuance, or degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for years. Wharton (Law Dict. ) -- Quantity of matter, in a body, its mass, as determined by its weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity. -- Quantity of motion (Mech.), in a body, the relative amount of its motion, as measured by its momentum, varying as the product of mass and velocity. -- Known quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are given. -- Unknown quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are sought.

<! p. 1174 !>

Quan*tiv"a*lence (?), n. [L. quantus how much + E. valence.] (Chem.) Valence. [Archaic]

Quan*tiv"a*lent (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to quantivalence. [Archaic]

Quan"tum (?), n.; pl. Quanta (#). [L., neuter of quantus how great, how much. See Quantity,] 1. Quantity; amount. "Without authenticating . . . the quantum of the charges." Burke.

2. (Math.) A definite portion of a manifoldness, limited by a mark or by a boundary. W. K. Clifford.

||Quantum meruit (&?;) [L., as much as he merited] (Law), a count in an ||action grounded on a promise that the defendant would pay to the ||plaintiff for his service as much as he should deserve. -- ||Quantum ||sufficit (&?;), or Quantum suff. [L., as much suffices] (Med.), a ||sufficient quantity. -- ||Quantum valebat (&?;) [L., as much at it ||was worth] (Law), a count in an action to recover of the defendant, ||for goods sold, as much as they were worth. Blackstone.

Quap (?), v. i. To quaver. [Obs.] See Quob.

Qua`qua*ver"sal (?), a. [L. quaqua wheresoever, whithersoever + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn.] 1. Turning or dipping in any or every direction.

2. (Geol.) Dipping toward all points of the compass round a center, as beds of lava round a crater.

Quar (?), n. A quarry. [Prov. Eng.] B. Jonson.

Quar"an*tine (?), n. [F. quarantaine, OF. quaranteine, fr. F. quarante forty, L. quadraginta, akin to quattuor four, and E. four: cf. It. quarantina, quarentine. See Four, and cf. Quadragesima.] 1. A space of forty days; -- used of Lent.

2. Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, such restraint or inhibition of intercourse; also, the place where infected or prohibited vessels are stationed.

Quarantine is now applied also to any forced stoppage of travel or communication on account of malignant contagious disease, on land as well as by sea.

3. (Eng. Law) The period of forty days during which the widow had the privilege of remaining in the mansion house of which her husband died seized.

Quarantine flag, a yellow flag hoisted at the fore of a vessel or hung from a building, to give warning of an infectious disease; -- called also the yellow jack, and yellow flag.

Quar`an*tine" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quarantined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quarantining.] To compel to remain at a distance, or in a given place, without intercourse, when suspected of having contagious disease; to put under, or in, quarantine.

Quarl (?), n. [Cf. G. qualle.] (Zoˆl.) A medusa, or jellyfish. [R.]

The jellied quarl that flings At once a thousand streaming stings.

J. R. Drake.

Quar"rel (?), n. [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quadrel, Quarry an arrow, Carrel.] 1. An arrow for a crossbow; -- so named because it commonly had a square head. [Obs.]

To shoot with arrows and quarrel.

Sir J. Mandeville.

Two arblasts, . . . with windlaces and quarrels.