quarantine

/ˈkwȯr-ən-ˌtēn/

partly modification of French quarantaine, from Old French, from quarante forty, from Latin quadraginta, from quadra- (akin to quattuor four) + -ginta (akin to viginti twenty); partly modification of Italian quarantena quarantine of a ship, from quaranta forty, from Latin quadraginta

noun

  1. a period of 40 days

  2. a term during which a ship arriving in port and suspected of carrying contagious disease is held in isolation from the shore

  3. a regulation placing a ship in quarantine

verb

  1. to detain in or exclude by quarantine

  2. to isolate from normal relations or communication

  3. to establish or declare a quarantine

verb

  1. to refrain from any contact with other individuals for a period of time (such as two weeks) during the outbreak of a contagious disease usually by remaining in one's home and limiting contact with family members