qua

"qua" is also a: user

(idea) by Tem42 Sat Dec 11 1999 at 5:10:28

Qua is used to mean 'in the role of'. A person will act in different ways in different situations, and this word is used when these differences matter.

Ed qua employee has a completely different personality than Ed qua football fan.

It comes from the Latin 'as' or 'who'. These days it's mostly used only in the social sciences, most particularly sociology.

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(definition) by Webster 1913 Wed Dec 22 1999 at 2:24:34

Qua (?), conj. [L., abl. of qui who.]

In so far as; in the capacity or character of; as.

It is with Shelley's biographers qua biographers that we have to deal. London Spectator.

 

© Webster 1913.

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