I. ˈkwȯr-ən-ˌtēn, ˈkwär- noun
Etymology: partly modification of French quarantaine, from Old French, from quarante forty, from Latin quadraginta, from quadra- (akin to quattuor four) + -ginta (akin to vi ginti twenty); partly modification of Italian quarantena quarantine of a ship, from quaranta forty, from Latin quadraginta — more at four , vigesimal
Date: 1609
1. : a period of 40 days
2.
a. : a term during which a ship arriving in port and suspected of carrying contagious disease is held in isolation from the shore
b. : a regulation placing a ship in quarantine
c. : a place where a ship is detained during quarantine
3.
a. : a restraint upon the activities or communication of persons or the transport of goods designed to prevent the spread of disease or pests
b. : a place in which those under quarantine are kept
4. : a state of enforced isolation
II. verb
( -tined ; -tin·ing )
Date: 1804
transitive verb
1. : to detain in or exclude by quarantine
2. : to isolate from normal relations or communication
quarantine an aggressor
intransitive verb
: to establish or declare a quarantine