quintet (n.)

1811, also quintette, "composition for five solo voices or instruments," from Italian quintetto, diminutive of quinto "fifth," from Latin quintus "the fifth," related to quinque "five" (from PIE root *penkwe- "five"). Earlier in English in the Italian form, quintetto (1792). Meaning "a company of five singers or players" is from 1882.

Entries linking to quintet

*penkwe-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "five."

It forms all or part of: cinquain; cinque; cinquecento; cinquefoil; fifteen; fifth; fifty; fin (n.) "five-dollar bill;" finger; fist; five; foist; keno; parcheesi; penta-; pentacle; pentad; Pentateuch; Pentecost; pentagon; pentagram; pentameter; pentathlon; Pentothal; Pompeii; Punjab; punch (n.2) "type of mixed drink;" quinary; quincunx; quinella; quinque-; quinquennial; quint; quintain; quintet; quintile; quintessence; quintillion; quintuple.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit panca, Greek pente, Latin quinque, Old Church Slavonic pęti, Lithuanian penki, Old Welsh pimp, Old English fif, Dutch vijf, Old High German funf.

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updated on March 16, 2021

Definitions of quintet from WordNet

quintet (n.)

a musical composition for five performers;

Synonyms: quintette

quintet (n.)

five performers or singers who perform together;

Synonyms: quintette

quintet (n.)

a set of five similar things considered as a unit;

Synonyms: quintette / quintuplet / quintuple

quintet (n.)

five people considered as a unit;

Synonyms: quintette / fivesome

quintet (n.)

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one;

Synonyms: five / " / v / cinque / quint / fivesome / quintuplet / pentad / fin / Phoebe / Little Phoebe

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near quintet

quinta

quintain

quintal

quintessence

quintessential

quintet

quintile

Quintilla

quintillion

quintuple

quintuplet