"state of perplexity," 1570s, of unknown origin, perhaps a quasi-Latinism based on Latin quando "when? at what time?; at the time that, inasmuch," pronominal adverb of time, related to qui "who" (from PIE root *kwo-, stem of relative and interrogative pronouns). Originally accented on the second syllable.
qualify
qualitative
quality
qualm
qualms
quandary
quango
quantifiable
quantification
quantify
quantitation