# quo'

/ˈkwoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quo
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

an old way of saying 'said'. It was used in stories to show who was speaking, usually before the person's name.

For teachers: an archaic form of 'quoth', representing the past tense of 'queath' (to say). Used almost exclusively in the first and third person to introduce a direct quotation.

## Usage notes

- Archaic and dialectal; always precedes the subject when used in the third person.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
