quite

Where does the word "quite" come from? It comes from Latin quies, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1300s).

Quite’s story begins in Latin: quies meant “rest, repose.” Rest, repose, giving rise to quietus (at rest, free, clear). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Anglo-French as quite. Completely free, clear, from quietus. It reached English by 1300s as quite. Settled as the English word for something done to the fullest extent. Today, quite means to the utmost or a considerable extent, completely.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quies "rest, repose", rest, repose, giving rise to quietus (at rest, free, clear).
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-French · medieval quite "completely free, clear", completely free, clear, from quietus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s quite "to the fullest extent, completely", settled as the English word for something done to the fullest extent.