quick

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English quik, from Old English cwic; akin to Old Norse kvikr living, Latin vivus living, vivere to live, Greek bios, zōē life Date: before 12th century 1. not dead ; living, alive 2. acting or capable of acting with speed: as a. (1) fast in understanding, thinking, or learning ; mentally agile <

a quick wit

> <

quick thinking

> (2) reacting to stimuli with speed and keen sensitivity (3) aroused immediately and intensely <

quick tempers

> b. (1) fast in development or occurrence <

a quick succession of events

> (2) done or taking place with rapidity <

gave them a quick look

> c. marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement <

walked with quick steps

> d. inclined to hastiness (as in action or response) <

quick to criticize

> e. capable of being easily and speedily prepared <

a quick and tasty dinner

> 3. a. archaic not stagnant ; running, flowing b. moving, shifting <

quick mud

> 4. archaic fiery, glowing 5. obsolete a. pungent b. caustic 6. archaic pregnant 7. having a sharp angle <

a quick turn in the road

> • quickly adverb • quickness noun Synonyms: quick, prompt, ready, apt mean able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability. quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power <

quick reflexes

> <

a keen quick mind

>. prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response <

prompt emergency medical care

>. ready suggests facility or fluency in response <

backed by a pair of ready assistants

>. apt stresses the possession of qualities (as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible <

an apt student

> <

her answer was apt and to the point

>. Synonym: see in addition fast. II. noun Date: before 12th century 1. quick plural living beings 2. [probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kvika sensitive flesh, from kvikr living] a. a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (as that underlying a fingernail or toenail) b. the inmost sensibilities <

hurt to the quick by the remark

> c. the very center of something ; heart 3. archaic life 11 III. adverb Date: 14th century in a quick manner