What is "to quit scores"

Score \Score\ (sk[=o]r), n. [AS. scor twenty, fr. sceran, scieran, to shear, cut, divide; or rather the kindred Icel. skor incision, twenty, akin to Dan. skure a notch, Sw. sk[*a]ra. See Shear.]

1. A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.

   Whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used.
   --Shak.

2. An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness.

   He parted well, and paid his score.
   --Shak.

3. Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.

   But left the trade, as many more Have lately done on the same score.
   --Hudibras.

   You act your kindness in Cydaria's score.
   --Dryden.

4. The number twenty, as being marked off by a special score or tally; hence, in pl., a large number.

   Amongst three or four score hogsheads.
   --Shak.

   At length the queen took upon herself to grant patents of monopoly by scores.
   --Macaulay.

5. A distance of twenty yards; -- a term used in ancient archery and gunnery.
   --Halliwell.

6. A weight of twenty pounds. [Prov. Eng.]

7. The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket.

8. A line drawn; a groove or furrow.

9. (Mus.) The original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance; -- so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts.
   --Moore (Encyc. of Music).

10. the grade received on an examination, such as those given in school or as a qualifying examination for a job or admission to school; -- it may be expressed as a percentage of answers which are correct, or as a number or letter; as, a score of 98 in a civil service exam.

    In score (Mus.), having all the parts arranged and placed in juxtaposition.
    --Smart.

    To quit scores, to settle or balance accounts; to render an equivalent; to make compensation.

    Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it?
    --South.

Quit \Quit\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quit or Quitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Quitting.] [OE. quiten, OF. quiter, quitier, cuitier, F. quitter, to acquit, quit, LL. quietare, fr. L. quietare to calm, to quiet, fr. quietus quiet. See Quiet, a., and cf. Quit, a., Quite, Acquit, Requite.]

1. To set at rest; to free, as from anything harmful or oppressive; to relieve; to clear; to liberate. [R.]

   To quit you of this fear, you have already looked Death in the face; what have you found so terrible in it?
   --Wake.

2. To release from obligation, accusation, penalty, or the like; to absolve; to acquit.

   There may no gold them quyte.
   --Chaucer.

   God will relent, and quit thee all his debt.
   --Milton.

3. To discharge, as an obligation or duty; to meet and satisfy, as a claim or debt; to make payment for or of; to requite; to repay.

   The blissful martyr quyte you your meed.
   --Chaucer.

   Enkindle all the sparks of nature To quit this horrid act.
   --Shak.

   Before that judge that quits each soul his hire.
   --Fairfax.

4. To meet the claims upon, or expectations entertained of; to conduct; to acquit; -- used reflexively.

   Be strong, and quit yourselves like men.
   --1 Sam. iv. 9.

   Samson hath quit himself Like Samson.
   --Milton.

5. To carry through; to go through to the end. [Obs.]

   Never worthy prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renown.
   --Daniel.

6. To have done with; to cease from; to stop; hence, to depart from; to leave; to forsake; as, to quit work; to quit the place; to quit jesting.

   Such a superficial way of examining is to quit truth for appearance.
   --Locke.

   To quit cost, to pay; to reimburse.

   To quit scores, to make even; to clear mutually from demands.

   Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it?
   --South.

   Syn: To leave; relinquish; resign; abandon; forsake; surrender; discharge; requite.

   Usage: Quit, Leave. Leave is a general term, signifying merely an act of departure; quit implies a going without intention of return, a final and absolute abandonment.