English · Word Candidate

quarantine

/ˈkwɔɹ.ən.tin/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: quarantines · quarantining · quarantined

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A period of 40 days, particularly

Noun

Examples

Now the Question seems to lye thus, where lay the Seeds of the Infection all this while? How came it to stop so long, and not stop any longer? Either the Distemper did not come immediately by Contagion from Body to Body, or if it did, then a Body may be capable to continue infected, without the Dise

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A period of 40 days, particularly — The 40-day period during which a widow is entitled to remain in her deceased husband's home while any dower is collected and returned.

Noun

Examples

Querentyne is where a man dyeth seisyd of a maner place and other landis where of the wyfe ought to be indowed, than the woman shall hold the maner place by .xl. days within which tyme her dower shalbe to her assyned.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To place into isolation to prevent the spread of any contagious disease.

Verb

Examples

Venice began quarantining incoming ships for 40 days in 1448 to prevent further outbreaks of bubonic plague.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To enter or stay in quarantine, particularly to self-quarantine to avoid an epidemic disease.

Verb

Examples

International travelers must quarantine themselves at their own expense in a designated hotel for 14 days upon arrival.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “quarantine” mean?

A period of 40 days, particularly

Is “quarantine” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.