Quick , v. t. &
i. [See Quicken.]
To revive; to quicken; to be or become
alive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Quick , n.
1. That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.
The works . . . are curiously hedged with quick.
Evelyn. 2. The life; the mortal point; a vital part;
a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe
to which the nail is
attached; the tender emotions;
as, to cut a finger nail
to the quick; to thrust a sword to the
quick, to taunt one to
the quick; -- used
figuratively.
This test nippeth, . . . this toucheth
the quick.
Latimer. How feebly and unlike themselves they reason when they come to
the quick of the difference !
Fuller. 3. (Bot.) Quitch grass. Tennyson.
Quick (?), adv. In
a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run
quick; get back quick.
If we consider how very quick the actions of the mind are
performed.
Locke.
Quick (?), a.
[Compar. Quicker (?); superl.
Quickest.]
[As. cwic, cwicu,
cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS.
quik, D. kwik, OHG. quec,
chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr
living, Goth. qius, Lith. q&ymacr;vas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living,
vivere to live, Gr.
bi`os life, Skr. jīva living, jīv to live.
Cf. Biography, Vivid, Quitch grass, Whitlow.]
1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed
to dead or inanimate.
Not fully
quyke, ne fully dead they were.
Chaucer. The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.
2
Tim. iv. 1. Man is no star, but a quick coal
Of mortal fire.
Herbert. &fist; In this
sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in some compounds, or in particular phrases.
2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready. " A quick wit." Shak.
3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be
quick.
Oft he her his charge of
quick return
Repeated.
Milton. 4. Impatient; passionate;
hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and signified that he was much offended.
Latimer. 5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
The air is quick there,
And it pierces and sharpens the stomach.
Shak. 6. Sensitive; perceptive
in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. "To have an open ear, a
quick eye."
Shak.
They say that women are so
quick.
Tennyson.
7. Pregnant; with child.
Shak.
Quick grass. (Bot.) See Quitch grass. -- Quick match. See under Match. --
Quick vein (Mining), a vein of ore which is productive, not barren. -- Quick vinegar, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous material. -- Quick water, quicksilver
water. -- Quick with child, pregnant with a living child.
Syn. --
Speedy; expeditious;
swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready; active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively; sprightly.
Hear it pronounced