Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Consisting of four letters, or of only four constant letters or consonants.
- noun A word or a root consisting of four letters or containing four consonants.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Consisting of four letters.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Used to describe word roots in
Semitic languages which consist of four letters - noun A word root in a Semitic language which consists of four letters
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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All other feet, primary or secondary, consist necessarily of seven letters, as they contain a triliteral Watad (see supra i. 2) with either two biliteral Sabab khafíf (i. 1) or a quadriliteral Fásilah
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True it is that many root forms exhibit only two consonants (e.g. 07176a09. gif, sab), but these are considered as contractions of original triliteral stems (e.g. 07176a10. gif, savav), and the few quadriliteral roots that occur are almost entirely of foreign origin, or can be otherwise accounted for.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913
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It is technically called "Haukalah" and "Haulakah," words in the third conjugation of increased triliterals, corresponding with the quadriliteral radicals and possessing the peculiar power of Kasr = abbreviation.
Arabian nights. English Anonymous 1855
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If this quadriliteral man had done so much for _them_, (though really, we think, 6s. 8d. might have settled his claim,) what, says Fire, setting her arms a-kimbo, would they do for _him_?
Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers — Volume 2 Thomas De Quincey 1822
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If this quadriliteral man had done so much for _them_, (though really, we think, 6s. 8d. might have settled his claim,) what, says Fire, setting her arms a-kimbo, would they do for _him_?
Narrative and Miscellaneous Papers Thomas De Quincey 1822
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Carter Revard St. Louis, Missouri Deciphering The Four-letter Word in a Medieval Manuscript's Satire on Friars The English may now reclaim from the Scots the honor, if such it be, of being the first to put the popular quadriliteral into writing.
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All other feet, primary or secondary, consist necessarily of seven letters, as they contain a triliteral Watad (see supra i. 2) with either two biliteral Sabab khafíf (i. 1) or a quadriliteral Fásilah (i.
Arabian nights. English Anonymous 1855
cathari commented on the word quadriliteral
"You shouldn't just make up words and then not define them. That's irresponsible." -Tellurian
November 1, 2007
uselessness commented on the word quadriliteral
A syntactically correct four-word sentence. Happy? ;-)
November 1, 2007
sionnach commented on the word quadriliteral
I thought it was just the adjective to describe a one-gallon container.
November 1, 2007
uselessness commented on the word quadriliteral
Oh, well that changes the pronunciation considerably, doesn't it. "quad ruh LEET er ull" :-P
November 1, 2007
skipvia commented on the word quadriliteral
A four letter word, but not in the vernacular...
November 1, 2007
reesetee commented on the word quadriliteral
All the good jokes are taken. ;-)
November 1, 2007
skipvia commented on the word quadriliteral
Well, you could say that it's someone who interprets things very strictly in four languages, but I don't know if that qualifies as a good joke. (That's never stopped me before, however.)
November 1, 2007
cathari commented on the word quadriliteral
Heehee. Thank you. :)
November 1, 2007
mollusque commented on the word quadriliteral
Consisting of four letters (adj.), a word of four letters (noun) (as opposed to a four-letter word), usually in reference to Semitic words.
November 1, 2007