quid

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *kʷid; compare *kʷis.

The sense “why” is an adverbial accusative; compare Ancient Greek τί (tí).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kʷid/, [kʷɪd̪]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kwid/, [kwid̪]

Pronoun

quid

1. neuter nominative/accusative singular of quis

   Quid dīcam?

1. What can I say?

1. (internal accusative) what, how? [ quotations ▼]

Derived terms

• quid tibi nomen est?
• quid nomen tibi est?
• quid si? (what if?)

  Quid si illud addimus.

• quid tum? (what then? how then?)
• quid ergo (ironically)
• quid agis?
• quid ais?

Adverb

quid (not comparable)

1. why? what for? [ quotations ▼]

Interjection

quid

1. well, why, what? [ quotations ▼]

   Quid, an nescīs

1. What, you mean you don't know?

Derived terms

• quid nī, quidnī
• quid ita

Related terms

• quod
• quis