I. ˈkwī(ə)r, -īə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English quair, from Middle French quaer, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin quadernum, alteration (influenced by Latin quadrum square) of Latin quaterni set of four, four each, from quater four times; akin to Latin quattuor four — more at four
1.
a. : four sheets (as of paper) folded together into eight leaves
b. : a set of folded sheets (as of a book) fitting one within another
2. : a collection of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets of paper of the same size and quality either not folded or having a single fold — compare ream
3. obsolete : a small book or pamphlet that makes up or could make up a quire : a work (as a poem or essay) that is or might be contained in a quire
•
- in quires
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to make or divide into quires or so that folded sheets may be placed one within another
quire sheets for a catalog
also : to fold (paper) in half when packing in reams
III.
variant of choir