Quintate
adj, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Misconstruction of quinate. alt-of, misconstruction, rare
"As to radiates, these are ternates and quintates, two in number, From among which we “plucked the four-leaf clover.”"
- 2 The set of the series of integers that occur between a multiple of five and the next (exclusive of those multiples). rare
"We have as variations for the numbers from 6 to 9, 6 = X + 1…, 7 = X + 2, etc.,…the numerals of the second quintate repeating without the use of the expressed base five."
- 1 To seize or destroy one fifth (of something). obsolete, rare
"1812, Emanuel Swedenborg [aut.] and J. Clowes [tr.], Arcana Cœlestia VII (2nd ed.), chapter xli, pages 210⁽¹⁾ and 270⁽²⁾ ⁽¹⁾ Let Pharaoh…quintate^✸ the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance of provision. ✸ Quintate signifies to take a fifth of any thing, and is derived from the Latin quintus, signifying a fifth, as decimate is derived from decimus, signifying a tenth. ⁽²⁾ “And let him quintate the land” — that hereby is signified which were to be preserved and afterwards stored up, appears from the signification of quintating, as here involving the like with decimating."
- 1 Misconstruction of quinate. alt-of, misconstruction, not-comparable
"Potentilla Reptans, Cinquefoil, a…European herb, with leaves which are usually quintate, and have thus given origin to the ordinary name of the plant."
Example
More examples"1812, Emanuel Swedenborg [aut.] and J. Clowes [tr.], Arcana Cœlestia VII (2nd ed.), chapter xli, pages 210⁽¹⁾ and 270⁽²⁾ ⁽¹⁾ Let Pharaoh…quintate^✸ the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance of provision. ✸ Quintate signifies to take a fifth of any thing, and is derived from the Latin quintus, signifying a fifth, as decimate is derived from decimus, signifying a tenth. ⁽²⁾ “And let him quintate the land” — that hereby is signified which were to be preserved and afterwards stored up, appears from the signification of quintating, as here involving the like with decimating."
Etymology
First attested in verbal use in 1812, in adjectival use in 1851, and in nominal use in 1889; from the Classical Latin quīntus (“fifth”); in the verbal sense after decimate, and in the botanic senses by mistaken analogy with ternate.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.