Quatre

QuadrilleI am struck by the preponderance of Latin roots for many English q-words that emanate from quad (4), or at least to the concept of dividing into four parts: quatrefoil (in French, quatre–4– and feuille, leaf), quadrille (a card game or square dance...or graph paper), quadrilateral . . . ❋ Unionpearl (2008)

In French, there's a leftover from a different system, in which counting occurred in 20s, which is why 80 is described as quatre-vingt ( "four twenties"). ❋ David Bodanis (2010)

Of course, the mystery is no mystery: it results from the inclusion of a mixture of spices (sometimes called quatre épices, or four spices, though there may be three or five) and brandy. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Formerly the [v. 03 p. 0134] four was called "quatre" ❋ Various (N/A)

The shape of the field to be decorated being a kind of quatre-foil, as shown in _fig. _ 13, four small figures are placed, one in each foil, and two larger ones in the center. ❋ John Ruskin (1859)

Toutes les maisons de la rue du quartier ont la même architecture: un escalier latéral de quatre ou cinq marches fait accéder à un petit perron devant la porte d'entrée. ❋ Unknown (2009)

In the film, housewares wholesaler Michael John C. Reilly says he believes in the god of carnage, but minus god, the film version still stays close to the stage play's tropes: a pas de quatre, two couples attempting to find a just resolution for the playground assault of one 11-year old child on his classmate. ❋ Regina Weinreich (2011)

Cette interview aurait été convaincante si Joseph pouvait citer trois ou quatre mesures phares prises pendant ses 7 ans de règne pour un bonheur congolais partagé. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Great story, Kristin, that I can relate to as ma belle-mère is quatre-vingts-sept and VERY unsteady on her feet. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Me retournant, je vis un petit type de vingt ans, pantalon et blouson noir, agitant une machete, entouré de comparses, quatre peut-être, deux ou trois avec des machetes. ❋ Unknown (2009)

In Les quatre cents coups, the young Antoine Doinel constructs a shrine to Balzac and nearly burns down his flat; it is hard to imagine the heroine of Fish Tank lighting a candle for Henry James. ❋ Unknown (2011)

J'aurai quatre-vengt-trois ans le vengt-neuf mai et je peux/puis encore dancer! ❋ Unknown (2010)

In Les quatre cents coups (The 400 Blows) (1959), there is a remarkable fairground scene where the young Antoine Doinel, playing truant from school, climbs into the Rotor, a huge spinning drum. ❋ Unknown (2011)

Although Doinel is a thief and truant, no viewer of Les quatre cents coups could believe that he deserves his fate; his stoic endurance, his shrug at the unfairness of life win us over. ❋ Unknown (2011)

On a larger scale, Les quatre cents coups moves from the freedom of Paris to fenced-in spaces, prison-bars, an institutional chill and solitude. ❋ Unknown (2011)