Meaning of quis | Babel Free
[ˈkʷɪs]Definitions
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who? interrogative, pronoun
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what? interrogative, pronoun
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which (of)? (mainly out of three or more, vs. uter "which of two?") interrogative, pronoun, usually
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why, what for? interrogative, pronoun
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someone, anyone; something, anything indefinite, not-clause-initial, pronoun, usually
Examples
“Quis custōdiet ipsōs custōdēs?”
who will watch the watchmen themselves?
“Quis mē est dītior?”
Who's richer than me?
“Nuntium misit. Quem aut ad quem?”
1903 translation by C. D. Yonge He sent a messenger—whom? or to whom?
“Quid accidit?”
What happened?
“Quid est enim exsul?”
For what is an exile?
“Quid est pietas nisi voluntas grata in parentes?”
1923 translation by N. H. Watts What is filial affection, if not a benevolent gratitude to one’s parents?
“Pro deum hominumque fidem! Quid hoc est? Quae haec causa est? Quae ista impudentia?”
For heaven's sake! What is this? What is the cause? What is this impudence of yours?
“Quis est iste ordo?”
2010 translation by D. R. Shackleton Bailey What category is this?
“Quis est enim iste amor amicitiae?”
What is this love of friendship then?
“Quis hic locus, quae regio, quae mundi plaga?”
What (is) this place? What area? What region of the world?
“Quis es?”
Who are you? (with the default emphasis on you)
“Quis es tū?”
Who are you? (with the marked emphasis on are)
“Quī sumus?”
Who are we?
“Ex comparatione, in qua per contentionem, utrum potius aut quid potissimum sit quaeritur”
1949 translation by H. M. Hubbell The case involves comparison when various actions are contrasted and the question is which one is more desirable or which is most desirable to perform
“suavitatem Isocrates, subtilitatem Lysias, acumen Hyperides, sonitum Aeschines, vim Demosthenes habuit. Quis eorum non egregius? Tamen quis cuiusquam nisi sui similis? Gravitatem Africanus, lenitatem Laelius, asperitatem Galba, profluens quiddam habuit Carbo et canorum. Quis horum non princeps temporibus illis fuit? Et suo tamen quisque in genere princeps.”
1942 translation by H. Rackham Isocrates had grace of style, Lysias precision, Hyperides penetration, Aeschines sonorousness, Demosthenes force: which of them is not eminent? and yet which resembles anyone but himself? Africanus had weight, Laelius smoothness, Galba harshness, Carbo a kind of flow and melody: which of these in the old days was not eminent? and yet each eminent in his own particular style.
“Nam quid in oppressu valido durabit eorum, ut mortem effugiat, leti sub dentibus ipsis?”
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
“Grammaticus circa curam sermonis versatur et, si latius evagari vult, circa historias, iam ut longissime fines suos proferat, circa carmina. Quid horum ad virtutem viam sternit?”
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
“Quid stās, lapis? Quīn accipis?”
Why are you standing there, stupid? Take it!
“ut si quid etiam de sua salute ab Aeduis iniretur consili”
in order that if any concerning his own safety should have been organized by the Aedui
“Sī quis tamen haec quoque, sī quis captus amōre leget, tē nostrae, Vāre, myrīcae,”
If anyone, if anyone reads this captured by love [for these verses], our tamarisks shall sing of you, Varus, and of you every grove shall sing.
“Non ego nunc vereor ne sim tibi vilior istis: uni si qua placet, culta puella sat est; […]”
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
“Respondit Iēsūs: āmēn āmēn, dīcō tibi, nisi quis renātus fuerit ex aquā et Spīritū, nōn potest introīre in rēgnum Deī.”
Jesus replied, "verily verily, I say to you, unless a person is reborn out of water and Spirit, that person can't enter into the kingdom of God."
“Nē quis fornicātor, aut profānus ut Esau, quī propter ūnam ēscam vendidit prīmitīva sua.”
Do not let anyone be a fornicator, nor a profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
“Iam de istis rebus voster quid sensit senex?”
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
“Themistocles quidem, cum ei Simonides an quis alius artem memoriae polliceretur, "Oblivionis", inquit, "mallem; nam memini etiam quae nolo, oblivisci non possum quae volo."”
(please add an English translation of this quotation)
CEFR level
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
See also
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