quite

Etymology 1

A development of quit, influence by Anglo-Norman quite.

adv

1. To the greatest extent or degree; completely, entirely.
   1. With verbs, especially past participles.
      Nobuyoshi Araki has been called a monster, a pornographer and a genius—and the photographer quite agrees. 4 October 2005, Adrian Searle, The Guardian
   2. With prepositional phrases and spatial adverbs.
      Margaret passed quite through the pines, and reached the opening beyond which was what was once the yard, but was now, except for a strip of flower-border and turf which showed care, simply a tangle of bushes and briars. 1891, Thomas Nelson Page, On Newfound River
      Religion and parochial etiquette are probed to reveal unhealthy, and sometimes shockingly violent, internal desires quite at odds with the surface life of a town in which tolerance is preached. 30 October 2010, Joanna Briscoe, The Guardian
   3. With predicative adjectives.
      It was almost quite dark in there and she kept her arms stretched out in front of her so as not to bump her face into the back of the wardrobe. 1950, C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
   4. With attributive adjectives, following an (especially indefinite) article; chiefly as expressing contrast, difference etc.
      When I warned him that his words might be offensive to identical twins, he said that identical twins were a quite different case. 2003, Richard Dawkins, A Devil's Chaplain
      Create a new, quite separate, private company – say Murdoch Newspaper Holdings – and give it all, or most of, the papers that News Corp owns. 18 September 2011, Peter Preston, The Observer
   5. Preceding nouns introduced by the indefinite article. Chiefly in negative constructions.
   6. With adverbs of manner.
      However, the proceedings were quite carefully orchestrated to produce what seemed to be a predetermined outcome. 2009, John F. Schmutz, The Battle of the Crater: A complete history
      Higher education institutions in the UK are, quite rightly, largely autonomous. 18 October 2011, Bob Burgess, The Guardian
2. In a fully justified sense; truly, perfectly, actually.
   1. Coming before the indefinite article and an attributive adjective. (Now largely merged with moderative senses, below.)
      "My little plot has been rather successful, after all, hasn't it?" "Quite a perfect success," said Drake. 1898, Charles Garvice, Nell of Shorne Mills
      While the government claims to lead the world with its plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the figures tell quite a different story. 7 February 2001, Paul Brown, The Guardian
   2. With plain adjectives, past participles, and adverbs.
      London Underground is quite unique in how many front line staff it has, as anyone who has travelled on the Paris Metro or New York Subway will testify. 5 November 2010, Dave Hill, The Guardian
   3. Coming before the definite article and an attributive superlative.
      Scaramouche has already been greeted as the finest French Revolution yet brought to the screen-and even if you are a little weary of seeing a strongly American band of sans-culottes demolish a pasteboard Paris, you should not miss Scaramouche, for it is quite the best thing Rex Ingram has done since The Four Horsemen. 8 October 1923, “The New Pictures”, in Time
   4. Before a noun preceded by an indefinite article; now often with ironic implications that the noun in question is particularly noteworthy or remarkable.
      To debauch the Indians with rum and cheat them of their land was quite a Government affair, and not at all criminal; but to use rum to cheat them of their peltry, was an abomination in the sight of the law. 1830, Senate debate, 15 April
      “Looks like you and Clay had quite a party,” she said with a glimmer in her dark blue eyes. 2011, Gilbert Morris, The Crossing
   5. Before a noun preceded by the definite article.
      His memoir features a child named Tommy Nothing Fancy who suffers from and dies of a seizure disorder. Quite the coincidence, don't you think? 6 February 2006, Sherman Alexie, “When the story stolen is your own”, in Time
   6. (now rare) With prepositional or adverbial phrases.
3. To a moderate extent or degree; somewhat, rather.
   Mind your shoes, the basement is quite wet.

intj

1. (chiefly UK) Indicates agreement; exactly so.
   “That's a rather ugly colour for a house, don't you think?” — “Quite.”

Etymology 2

From Spanish quite.

noun

1. (bullfighting) A series of passes made with the cape to distract the bull.