Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Quarantine

Quar′an-tine

,
Noun.
[F.
quarantaine
, OF.
quaranteine
, fr. F.
quarante
forty, L.
quadraginta
, akin to
quattuor
four, and E.
four
: cf. It.
quarantina
,
quarentine
. See
Four
, and cf.
Quadragesima
.]
1.
A space of forty days; – used of Lent.
2.
Specifically, the term, originally of forty days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the shore; hence, such restraint or inhibition of intercourse; also, the place where infected or prohibited vessels are stationed.
Quarantine is now applied also to any forced stoppage of travel or communication on account of malignant contagious disease, on land as well as by sea.
3.
(Eng. Law)
The period of forty days during which the widow had the privilege of remaining in the mansion house of which her husband died seized.
Quarantine flag
,
a yellow flag hoisted at the fore of a vessel or hung from a building, to give warning of an infectious disease; – called also the
yellow jack
, and
yellow flag
.

Quarˊan-tine′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Quarantined
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Quarantining
.]
To compel to remain at a distance, or in a given place, without intercourse, when suspected of having contagious disease; to put under, or in, quarantine.

Webster 1828 Edition


Quarantine

QUAR'ANTINE

,
Noun.
[L. quartus, fourth; Eng. quart. See Quart and Square.]
1.
Properly, the space of forty days; appropriately, the term of forty days during which a ship arriving in port and suspected of being infected with a malignant, contagious disease, is obliged to forbear all intercourse with the city or place. Hence,
2.
Restraint of intercourse to which a ship is subjected on the presumption that she may be infected, either for forty days or for any other limited term. It is customary for the proper officers to determine the period of restraint at their discretion, according to circumstances. Hence we hear of a quarantine of five days, of ten, of thirty, &c. as well as of forty. We say, a ship performs quarantine, or rides at quarantine. We also apply the word to persons. The passengers and crew perform quarantine.
3.
In law, the period of forty days, during which the widow of a man dying seized of land, has the privilege of remaining to the mansion house.

Definition 2024


quarantine

quarantine

English

Noun

quarantine (plural quarantines)

  1. A desert in which Christ fasted for 40 days according to the Bible
  2. A grace period of 40 days during which a widow has the right to remain in her dead husband's home, regardless of the inheritance
Translations

Etymology 2

From Italian quarantina (forty), from quarantina giorni (forty days), (the period Venetians customarily kept ships from plague-ridden countries waiting off port), from quaranta (forty), from Latin quadraginta (forty)

Noun

quarantine (plural quarantines)

  1. A sanitary measure to prevent the spread of a contagious plague by isolating those believed to be infected.
  2. Such official detention of a ship at or off port due to suspicion that it may be carrying a contagious disease aboard.
  3. A certain place for isolating persons suspected of suffering from a contagious disease.
  4. A certain period of time during which a person is isolated to determine whether they've been infected with a contagious disease.
  5. (by extension) Any rigorous measure of isolation, regardless of the reason.
  6. A record system kept by port health authorities in order to monitor and prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
  7. (computing) A place where email messages or other files which are suspected of harboring a virus are stored.
Translations

Verb

quarantine (third-person singular simple present quarantines, present participle quarantining, simple past and past participle quarantined)

  1. To retain in obligatory isolation or separation, as a sanitary measure to prevent the spread of contagious disease.
  2. To put in isolation as if by quarantine
Derived terms
Translations

Italian

Noun

quarantine f

  1. plural of quarantina