Definitions for quiddityˈkwɪd ɪ ti

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

quid•di•tyˈkwɪd ɪ ti(n.)(pl.)-ties.

  1. the quality that makes a thing what it is; essential nature.

  2. a trifling nicety of subtle distinction, as in argument.

Origin of quiddity:

1530–40; < ML quidditās= L quid what +-itās -ity

Princeton's WordNet

  1. quibble, quiddity, cavil(noun)

    an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections

  2. quiddity, haecceity(noun)

    the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other

Wiktionary

  1. quiddity(Noun)

    The essence or inherent nature of a person or thing.

  2. quiddity(Noun)

    A trifle; a nicety or quibble

  3. quiddity(Noun)

    An eccentricity; an odd feature

  4. Origin: From quiddité, and its source, quidditas, from quid + -itas.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Quiddity(noun)

    the essence, nature, or distinctive peculiarity, of a thing; that which answers the question, Quid est? or, What is it?

  2. Quiddity(noun)

    a trifling nicety; a cavil; a quibble


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