quell
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also Quell
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English [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
Etymology 1 [edit]
Old English cwellan (“to kill”). Compare Old Armenian կեղ (keł, “sore, ulcer”), Old Church Slavonic жаль (žalĭ, “pain”), German quälen (“to torment, agonize, smite”).
Verb [edit]
quell (third-person singular simple present quells, present participle quelling, simple past and past participle quelled)
- (obsolete, transitive) To kill. [9th-19th c.]
- (transitive) To subdue, to put down; to silence or force (someone) to submit. [from 10th c.]
- (transitive) To suppress, to put an end to (something); to extinguish. [from 14th c.]
- to quell grief
- to quell the tumult of the soul
- (obsolete, intransitive) To be subdued or abated; to diminish. [16th-17th c.]
Translations [edit]
transitive: to take the life of; to kill — see kill
transitive: to subdue, put down
transitive: to suppress, put an end to
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Etymology 2 [edit]
German Quelle.
Noun [edit]
quell (plural quells)