quietude
Say it: KWY-ih-tyood /ˈkwaɪətjuːd/ · noun
What “quietude” means
A state of calm, stillness and quiet.
More precisely: A state of stillness, calm and quiet.
Example: “The library's quietude was exactly what I needed before the exam.”
When to use it
Use it for restful peace and stillness in reflective or literary descriptions of places or moments.
Memory trick
The familiar word “quiet” is your clue: quietude means being quiet and still.
Similar words
stillness, calm, tranquillity
Where it comes from
French quiétude or medieval Latin quietudo, from quietus 'quiet'.
Quick check
You sit beside a motionless pond, with no voices or traffic and nothing disturbing the calm. What surrounds you?
quietude or solitude?
Show the answer
quietude
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