Quan"ti*ty (?), n.; pl.
Quantities (#). [F. quantite, L.
quantitas, fr. quantus bow great, how much, akin to
quam bow, E. how, who. See Who.]
1. The attribute of being so much, and not
more or less; the property of being measurable, or capable of increase
and decrease, multiplication and division; greatness; and more
concretely, that which answers the question "How much?"; measure in
regard to bulk or amount; determinate or comparative dimensions;
measure; amount; bulk; extent; size. Hence, in specific uses:
(a) (Logic) The extent or extension of a
general conception, that is, the number of species or individuals to
which it may be applied; also, its content or comprehension, that is,
the number of its constituent qualities, attributes, or
relations. (b) (Gram.) The measure
of a syllable; that which determines the time in which it is
pronounced; as, the long or short quantity of a vowel or
syllable. (c) (Mus.) The relative
duration of a tone.
2. That which can be increased, diminished, or
measured; especially (Math.), anything to which mathematical
processes are applicable.
☞ Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate
objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are
connected, either in succession, as in time, motion, etc., or in
extension, as by the dimensions of space, viz., length, breadth, and
thickness.
3. A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or
bulk; a certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount; a
large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in
quantities, that is, in large quantities.
The quantity of extensive and curious
information which he had picked up during many months of desultory,
but not unprofitable, study.
Macaulay.
Quantity of estate (Law), its time of
continuance, or degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for
years. Wharton (Law Dict. ) -- Quantity of
matter, in a body, its mass, as determined by its
weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity. --
Quantity of motion (Mech.), in a body,
the relative amount of its motion, as measured by its momentum,
varying as the product of mass and velocity. -- Known
quantities (Math.), quantities whose values are
given. -- Unknown quantities (Math.),
quantities whose values are sought.