quid-nunc

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

An inquisitive person, always seeking for news. The words translated simply signify, "What now?"

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “quid-nunc” mean?

An inquisitive person, always seeking for news. The words translated simply signify, "What now?"

Is “quid-nunc” formal or informal?

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