quten (v.) Also quit(e, quiti(n, quight, qui3t, quitte(n, quith, white(n, whitten, queiten & (early) cwite(n & (error) guite. Forms: sg.3 quiteth, etc. & quit(te; p. quited, quit(e, quitte; ppl. quited, iquitted, quite, i)quit(te, whitt.

[OF quiter, quitter, quettier.]

1.

(a) To pay for (sth.); pay (a tax, rent); ~ cost(es, ~ costage, defray costs; ~ expense, repay expense or effort; also, bear responsibility for (a soul), pay for; (b) to repay a debt, repay; discharge (a debt), settle (a claim); repay (a debt to sb.); ~ oute, repay (a debt) in full; also fig.; ben quit, of a debt: be cleared, settled; (c) to fulfill an obligation; discharge (an obligation), make good (a promise), fulfill (a vow); ~ of treuth, keep one's promise; ~ dette, pay the marriage debt; ~ servise, carry out (one's) task; ~ part, do (one's) part or duty; (d) to return (sth.), give (sth.) back to the rightful owner, make restitution; ~ ayen, eft ~; also, deliver (sth. to sb.), give; (e) to compensatefor (sth.), make satisfaction or amends (for sth.), recompense; expiate (a sin); atone for (the sins of the world) [last quot.].

2.

(a) To give reward; requite (sb.), repay, reward; ~to, reward (sb.); ~ ayen of, ~ for (of, with), recompense (sb.) for (sth.); (b) to give (reward); give (sb.) recompense for (a benefit, labor, time, etc.), repay (a benefit to sb.); ~ to, give (reward to sb.); also, repay (a benefit to sb.); impers. hit shal ~ to the, you shall be rewarded; (c) to requite (a benefit, service, labor, etc.), reward (a good deed); (d) ~ mede (dette, guerdoun, hire, journei, talente, wage), to pay (sb. his) due, give (sb. his) reward for good or for ill; also, without personal object: ~ mede (hire, wage), pay (someone's) due; (e) to pay (sb.); render (service to sb.).

3.

(a) To take revenge; take revenge on (sb.), get even with, punish; ~ of, requite (sb.) for (an injury); ~ on, punish (sb.) vicariously through (his friend); ~ to, punish (sb.); ~ veniaunce into, ~ yeldinge to, inflict vengeance on (sb.); (b) to take vengeance on (sb.) for (an injury), avenge (an injury on sb.); ~ into, inflict retribution on (sb.) for (wickedness); (c) to give retribution for (an injury, a vice), avenge (an injury); (d) to answer (sb.), answer (sb.) back, retort (a rebuke); ~ speche, retort (a speech) on (sb.); (e) to avenge (sb., one's horse); (f) to match (sb., a tale), equal.

4.

(a) To acquit (sb.) of a charge, declare (sb.) not guilty; drop charges against (sb.); prove (sb.) innocent, exculpate; clear (sb. of blame), excuse, exonerate; ben quit, be acquitted, be exempt (from punishment), be forgiven (for sth.), be saved from damnation; (b) refl. to prove oneself innocent; free oneself from blame, excuse oneself; ~ of, justify oneself about (sth.); also, rid oneself (of a vice); ~ in (with) shrift, acquit oneself by confession and penance; (c) to release (sb.), deliver, set free; ransom (sb.); free (sb. from demoniac possession); -- also refl.; ~ oute, ransom (sb.); also, redeem (a pledge); (d) to free(sb., a church from an obligation, a debt, tribute); excuse (sb.) from (a duty); -- also refl.; ppl. quit(ed as adj.: freed from a debt or an obligation; released from a burdensome life; quited of, cleared with respect to (an account) [quot.: 1429, 1st].

5.

Refl. (a) To acquit oneself (itself), do one's duty, give an account of oneself; (b) to pay one's debts or dues, render one's account; ~ him of, settle his debt to (sb.); also, fulfill his obligations with respect to (sth.), ~ him oute of, fulfill his obligations with respect to (sth.).

6.

To give up (sth.), relinquish a claim to (sth.).

7.

To leave, depart; ~ awei; ben quit oute, be expelled (from paradise).