Category:Quality

Qual"i*ty, n.; pl. Qualities. Etym: [f. qualité, 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.

Note: 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.