quell

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. suppress or crush completely“squelch any sign of dissent”“quench a rebellion”Synonyms: squelchquench
  2. overcome or allay“quell my hunger”Synonyms: stayappease
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Quell \Quell\, v. t. [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]

1.To take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

2.To overpower; to subdue; to put down. [1913 Webster]

The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled him to quell the disaffected minority.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]
Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt.— Longfellow.[1913 Webster]

3.To quiet; to allay; to pacify; to cause to yield or cease; as, to quell grief; to quell the tumult of the soul. [1913 Webster]

Much did his words the gentle lady quell.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

Syn: to subdue; crush; overpower; reduce; put down; repress; suppress; quiet; allay; calm; pacify. [1913 Webster]


Quell \Quell\, n. Murder. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Quell \Quell\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quelling.] [See Quail to cower.] [1913 Webster]

1.To die. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

2.To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Winter's wrath begins to quell.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]
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