quyk

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old English cwic, from Proto-West Germanic *kwiku, from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kwik/, /kweːk/

Adjective

quyk (plural and weak singular quyke, superlative quykest)

  1. living, alive, active
    • c. 1368, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, as recorded c. 1440–1450 in Bodleian Library MS. Fairfax 16, folio 131r:
      Sende me grace to slepe and mete / In my slepe some certeyn sweven / Wher thorgh that I may knowe even / Whethir my lorde be quyke or ded
      Send me grace to sleep and dream / Some trustworthy dream in my sleep / Through which I might know exactly / Whether my lord is alive or dead.
  2. active, alert
  3. vibrant, powerful, forceful, effective, apparent
  4. keen, perceptive
  5. fast, speedy, quick

Derived terms

Descendants

  • English: quick (dialectal wick)
  • Scots: quick, queek

Noun

quyk (plural quykes or quyk)

  1. living being

Adverb

quyk

  1. quickly, immediately
  2. while living

References