Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Quick \Quick\, a. [Compar. {Quicker}; superl. {Quickest}.] [As.
cwic, cwicu, cwucu, cucu, living; akin to OS. quik, D. kwik,
OHG. quec, chec, G. keck bold, lively, Icel. kvikr living,
Goth. qius, Lith. q[=y]vas, Russ. zhivoi, L. vivus living,
vivere to live, Gr. bi`os life, Skr. j[=i]va living, j[=i]v
to live. Cf. {Biography}, {Vivid}, {Quitch grass},
{Whitlow}.]
1. Alive; living; animate; -- opposed to {dead} or
{inanimate}.
Not fully quyke, ne fully dead they were. --Chaucer.
The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and
the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. --2 Tim.
iv. 1.
Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire. --
Herbert.
Note: In this sense the word is nearly obsolete, except in
some compounds, or in particular phrases.
2. Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly;
agile; brisk; ready. `` A quick wit.'' --Shak.
3. Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.
Oft he her his charge of quick return Repeated.
--Milton.
4. Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp;
unceremonious; as, a quick temper.
The bishop was somewhat quick with them, and
signified that he was much offended. -- Latimer.
5. Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.
The air is quick there, And it pierces and sharpens
the stomach. -- Shak.
6. Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick
ear. ``To have an open ear, a quick eye.'' --Shak.
They say that women are so quick. --Tennyson.
7. Pregnant; with child. --Shak.
{Quick grass}. (Bot.) See {Quitch grass}.
{Quick match}. See under {Match}.
{Quick vein} (Mining), a vein of ore which is productive, not
barren.
{Quick vinegar}, vinegar made by allowing a weak solution of
alcohol to trickle slowly over shavings or other porous
material.
{Quick water}, quicksilver water.
{Quick with child}, pregnant with a living child.
Syn: Speedy; expeditious; swift; rapid; hasty; prompt; ready;
active; brisk; nimble; fleet; alert; agile; lively;
sprightly.