Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
quodlibet [kwod-luh-bet] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- a subtle or elaborate argument or point of debate, usually on a theological or scholastic subject.
- Music. a humorous composition consisting of two or more independent and harmonically complementary melodies, usually quotations of well-known tunes, played or sung together, usually to different texts, in a polyphonic arrangement.
Origin of quodlibet 1350–1400; Middle English Medieval Latin quodlibetum; compare Latin quod libet what pleases, as you pleaseRelated formsquod·li·bet·ic, quod·li·bet·i·cal, adjectivequod·li·bet·i·cl·ly, adverb Examples from the Web for quodlibet Historical Examples of quodlibet
The climax was reached in the quodlibet, when all joined in a sort of comic chorus.
Reginald Lane Poole
Sebastian Bach—The clan feeling—A sixteenth century quodlibet.
Charles Francis Abdy Williams
The old family seat of the Flams is about two miles from Quodlibet.
John P. Kennedy
A change had also taken place in the business affairs of Quodlibet.
John P. Kennedy
Every one in Quodlibet supposed that this stroke of the procession settled the matter.
John P. Kennedy
British Dictionary definitions for quodlibet quodlibet noun
- a light piece of music based on two or more popular tunes
- a subtle argument, esp one prepared as an exercise on a theological topic
Derived Formsquodlibetical, adjectivequodlibetically, adverbWord Origin for quodlibet C14: from Latin, from quod what + libet pleases, that is, whatever you like Word Origin and History for quodlibet n.
“a nicety, subtlety,” late 14c., Latin, literally “what you will, what you please,” from quod “what,” neuter of qui (see who) + libet “it pleases” (see love (n.)).