Quo

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kwəʊ/

Definitions

1. The existing state or condition of things at a particular time, especially in relation to maintaining or changing circumstances
2. The current situation or state of affairs, particularly regarding societal norms or conditions that may be altered or preserved
3. A prevailing condition or state that reflects how things are at a specific moment, usually in reference to stability or change

Etymology: In Latin, "quo" is the ablative form of the relative pronoun "qui", so it means "in which" or "by which." It survives in English almost entirely through the phrase "status quo," which is short for "in statu quo," meaning "in the state in which" things stand. The noun is that phrase with its first half dropped. Speakers keep only the part that carries the sense of a condition as it currently exists, so "the quo" means the existing arrangement, whether someone wants to defend it or overturn it. The same word can therefore describe a fragile balance or a settled order, depending on whether the speaker wishes to keep things as they are.