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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
quell 
[kwel] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[kwel] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object)
| 1. | to suppress; put an end to; extinguish: The troops quelled the rebellion quickly. |
| 2. | to vanquish; subdue. |
| 3. | to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.): The child's mother quelled his fears of the thunder. |
[Origin: bef. 900; ME quellen, OE cwellan to kill; akin to ON kvelja to torment, G quälen to vex; cf. kill1]
] —Related forms
quell·a·ble, adjective
queller, noun
—Synonyms 1, 2. crush, quash, overpower, overcome, defeat, conquer, quench. 3. calm, pacify, compose, hush.
—Antonyms 1, 2. foster. 3. agitate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| quell
(kwěl) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. quelled, quell·ing, quells
[Middle English quellen, to kill, from Old English cwellan; see gwelə- in Indo-European roots.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
quell
quell
O.E. cwellan "to kill, murder, execute," from P.Gmc. *kwaljanan (cf. O.E. cwelan "to die," cwalu "violent death;" O.S. quellian "to torture, kill;" O.N. kvelja "to torment;" M.Du. quelen "to vex, tease, torment;" O.H.G. quellan "to suffer pain," Ger. qualen "to torment, torture"), from root *kwel-/*kwal- (cf. Armenian kelem "I torture;" O.C.S. zali "pain;" Lith. galas "end," gela "agony," gelati "to sting"). Milder sense of "suppress, extinguish" developed by c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| quell | |
verb | |
| 1. | suppress or crush completely; "squelch any sign of dissent"; "quench a rebellion" [syn: squelch] |
| 2. | overcome or allay; "quell my hunger" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Quell
Quell\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quelling.] [See Quail to cower.]1. To die. [Obs.] Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell. --Spenser. 2. To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. --Spenser.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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. The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. --Chaucer. 2. To overpower; to subdue; to put down. The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled him to quell the disaffected minority. --Macaulay. Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt. --Longfellow. 3. To quiet; to allay; to pacify; to cause to yield or cease; as, to quell grief; to quell the tumult of the soul. Much did his words the gentle lady quell. --Spenser. Syn: to subdue; crush; overpower; reduce; put down; repress; suppress; quiet; allay; calm; pacify.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Quell
Quell\, n. Murder. [Obs.] --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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