n. 1. Something that serves to suppress, check, or eliminate: "He was blindsided by a conflict in Korea that put the quietus on his China venture" (Robert L. Beisner). 2. Release from life; death. 3. A final discharge, as of a duty or debt. [Short for Middle English quietus (est), (he is) discharged (of an obligation), from Medieval Latin quiētus (est), from Latin, (he is) at rest; see QUIET.] |
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