/kwuy ee"teuhs/ , n. , pl. quietuses .
1. a finishing stroke; anything that effectually ends or settles: Having given a quietus to the argument, she left.
2. discharge or release from life.
3. a period of retirement or inactivity.
[ 1530-40; quietus quit (in quietus est (he) is quit, a formula of acquittance), L: (he) is quiet, at rest (see QUIET 1 ); cf. QUIT 1 (adj.) ]