: in the capacity or character of : as
discussing the story qua story

Did you know?

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."

Word History

Etymology

Latin, which way, as, from ablative singular feminine of qui who — more at who

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of qua was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near qua

Cite this Entry

“Qua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qua. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

qua

preposition
: in the capacity or character of
a legitimate interest of the stockholder qua stockholder
Etymology

Latin, which way, as, from ablative singular feminine of qui who

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