Question

qua preposition 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." : in the capacity or character of : as

Accepted Answer

August 23, 2009 KWAH The school gym qua dance floor was where Oscar and Nanette fell in love.

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

Qua Preposition We’re Meaning Capacity August Kwah Paraphrasing