quaint
Meaning: Attractively unusual or old-fashioned in a charming way. Can also carry a subtly condescending undertone, implying that something is charmingly outdated or naive.
Quaint is a double-edged word. When used straightforwardly, it describes the picturesque charm of thatched cottages, village greens, and traditional customs. However, it can also be wielded with gentle condescension — calling an idea 'quaint' may imply it is endearingly behind the times. Travel writing, property descriptions, and cultural commentary are the word's natural habitats. It collocates with 'village,' 'cottage,' 'custom,' 'notion,' and 'charm,' and is deeply embedded in the vocabulary of British tourism.
Examples
- The quaint fishing village on the Cornish coast attracted thousands of visitors each summer. 康沃尔海岸那个古雅的渔村每年夏天吸引数千名游客。El pintoresco pueblo pesquero de la costa de Cornualles atraía a miles de visitantes cada verano.コーンウォール海岸の趣ある漁村は、毎年夏に何千人もの観光客を引きつけた。콘월 해안의 운치 있는 어촌 마을은 매년 여름 수천 명의 관광객을 끌어들였다.
- His notion that a handshake was as binding as a written contract struck his younger colleagues as quaint. 他认为握手与书面合同同样具有约束力的观念,在年轻同事看来实在古旧。Su idea de que un apretón de manos era tan vinculante como un contrato escrito les parecía pintoresca a sus colegas más jóvenes.握手は書面の契約と同じくらい拘束力があるという彼の考えは、若い同僚たちには古風に映った。악수가 서면 계약만큼 구속력이 있다는 그의 생각은 젊은 동료들에게 고풍스럽게 여겨졌다.
- The guidebook praised the town's quaint medieval streets, largely unchanged since the fifteenth century. 旅游指南盛赞该镇古雅的中世纪街道,自十五世纪以来几乎没有改变。La guía elogiaba las pintorescas calles medievales del pueblo, prácticamente inalteradas desde el siglo XV.ガイドブックは、15世紀からほとんど変わっていないその町の趣ある中世の街並みを称賛した。안내서는 15세기 이래 거의 변하지 않은 그 마을의 운치 있는 중세 거리를 칭찬했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general, literary
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Old French cointe (clever, pretty, knowledgeable), from Latin cognitus (known). The meaning shifted from 'clever' and 'elegant' in Middle English to 'attractively old-fashioned' by the 18th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free