I. |kwāˌzī; also -äzē, -āˌsī, -äsē; sometimes -āzē, -ȯzē, -ȯsē; or -i instead of -ē adverb
Etymology: Latin, from quam than, how, as + si if — more at quantity , so
1. : as if : as it were : in a manner : in some sense or degree : seemingly , almost
the legatee was quasi an heir — O.W.Holmes †1935
— usually joined to second element with a hyphen
a quasi -historical narrative
quasi -universal literacy
the quasi -diamond-shaped mouthpiece — William Yeomans
served quasi -officially
2. |kwäzē, -i
[Italian, from Latin]
: in effect
andante quasi allegro
: approximately
quasi largo
— used to qualify a musical direction
II. adjective
1. : having some resemblance (as in function, effect, or status) to a given thing : seeming , virtual
a quasi argument
its economic power gave it a position of quasi government — Fritz Tarnow
in dance band orchestrations, the arranger develops into a quasi composer — Claude Lapham
— often joined to second element with a hyphen
a quasi -shawl
quasi -republicanism
2. : having a given legal status only by operation or construction of law and without reference to any intent of the party in interest (as the obligee or owner)
quasi crime
a quasi trustee
a quasi right