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quietude

American  
[kwahy-i-tood, -tyood] / ˈkwaɪ ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

  1. the state of being quiet; tranquility; calmness; stillness.

    After the storm passed, there was a lovely quietude.


quietude British  
/ ˈkwaɪəˌtjuːd /

noun

  1. the state or condition of being quiet, peaceful, calm, or tranquil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of quietude

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin quiētūdō, equivalent to Latin quiētus quiet + -tūdō -tude

Explanation

Your mother has probably more than once asked you for quietude even if she hasn't used the word. Quietude means a state of peace and quiet. It goes hand in hand with solitude. Quietude is a word that is used less and less, as we seem to have less time and space for it. A park used to be a good place to find quietude, but with cell phones, you're likely to begin chatting even when no one else is around. If you really want quietude, you might try a library, or a chapel. Meditation can be used to bring you a moment of quietude wherever you are. Try it now. Ohhhmmm. Ohhhmmm. Ohhhmmm.

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Vocabulary lists containing quietude

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

From serene nature retreats to silent walking, the quest for quietude has become one of modern travel’s latest trends.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2024

There’s a rich quietude at work in “The Shadowless Tower,” which makes one realize how that virtue varies from filmmaker to filmmaker.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2024

This state of subatomic quietude is critical to detect minute dark matter signatures.

From Salon • Jan. 26, 2024

He began the project during the quietude of the coronavirus pandemic, sitting alone at an upright Yamaha piano in the music room of his Pasadena, Calif., home.

From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2023

It was a period of quietude, a kind of spiritual preparation for the trials of manhood that lay ahead.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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