adjective
quaint
kwaynt
adjective
1
Attractively unusual or old-fashioned, especially in a charming way.
"The village was full of quaint cottages and cobbled streets."
"She loved the quaint little bookshop with its creaky wooden floors."
How to Use Quaint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCharmingly old-fashioned or unusual, in a pleasant way rather than a negative one.
Common mistake
Not simply "old" or "outdated" — quaint always carries a positive, charmed tone.
Common pairings
a quaint village
quaint little shop
quaint tradition
Word Forms
quainter comparative, quaints plural, quaintest superlative
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The village was full of _____ cottages and cobbled streets.
Etymology
From Old French cointe ("clever, elegant"), from Latin cognitus ("known"); the meaning shifted over centuries from "clever" to "curiously old-fashioned but charming."