prep. 1  In the capacity or character of; as: The president qua head of the party mediated the dispute. 2  as; as being; in the character or capacity of: The work of art qua art can be judged by aesthetic criteria only. [1640â50; < Latin quÄ (viÄ) literally, by which (way) or quÄ (parte) by which (part)] Translations. comein quanto.