■ noun ( plural qualities )
1》 the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind.
↘general excellence.
↘ archaic high social standing.
2》 a distinctive attribute or characteristic.
↘ Phonetics the distinguishing characteristic or characteristics of a speech sound.
■ adjective informal of good ~; excellent: he's a ~ player.
Origin
ME: from OFr. qualite , from L. qualitas , from qualis 'of what kind, of such a kind'.