Apedia

Qua Preposition We’re Meaning Capacity August Kwah Paraphrasing

Qua is a preposition meaning in the capacity or character of: as.

Qua es una preposición que significa en la capacidad o carácter de: como.

Word qua
Date August 23, 2009
Type preposition
Syllables KWAH
Etymology Which way? Who? No, we’re not paraphrasing lines from the old Abbott and Costello routine "Who’s on First?"; we’re referring to the etymology of "qua," a term that comes to us from Latin. It can be translated as "which way" or "as," and it is a derivative of the Latin "qui," meaning "who." "Qua" has been serving English in the capacity of a preposition since the 17th century. It’s a learned but handy little word that led one 20th-century usage writer to comment: "Qua is sometimes thought affected or pretentious, but it does convey meaning economically."
Examples The school gym qua dance floor was where Oscar and Nanette fell in love.
Definition : in the capacity or character of : as

Tags: wordoftheday::preposition

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