qed

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See also: QED

Maltese

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Root
q-għ-d
9 terms

Etymology

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From a contracted pronunciation of qiegħed, from Arabic قاعِد (qāʕid, sitting), used in a number of dialects (like Tunisian Arabic and Hijazi Arabic) to form progressive tenses, originally in the sense “he’s sitting there (talking, drinking, etc.)”. Unrelated to Arabic قَد (qad), a modal particle, which does not express progressiveness.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ʔɛːt/
  • Usually unstressed and then automatically shortened to /ʔɛt/.

Particle

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qed

  1. A verbal particle indicating progressive verb tenses
    X’qed tagħmel? – Qed naħsel ħwejġek.
    What are you doing? – I am washing your clothes.
    • 2019, Kristina Borg, Imkejjen u Rkejjen, Ede Books, →ISBN, page 18:
      Dal-lejl ħlomt ħolma.
      Waħda ħelwa, imma stramba.
      Fil-verità, waħda li qed noħlom ta’ spiss.
      Last night I had a dream.
      A pleasant dream, but strange.
      Actually, it's a recurring dream.