O.E. acwencan "to quench" (of fire, light), from P.Gmc. *cwandjan, probably a causative form of root of O.E. cwincan "to go out, be extinguished," O.Fris. kwinka.
satisfy (thirst); "The cold water quenched his thirst"
2.
put out, as of fires, flames, or lights; "Too big to be extinguished at once, the forest fires at best could be contained"; "quench the flames"; "snuff out the candles" [syn: snuff out] [ant: ignite]
3.
electronics: suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit, or suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device
4.
suppress or crush completely; "squelch any sign of dissent"; "quench a rebellion" [syn: squelch]
5.
reduce the degree of (luminescence or phosphorescence) in (excited molecules or a material) by adding a suitable substance
6.
cool (hot metal) by plunging into cold water or other liquid; "quench steel"
Quench\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Quenching.] [OE. quenchen, AS. cwencan in [=a]cwencan, to extinguish utterly, causative of cwincan, [=a]cwincan, to decrease, disappear; cf. AS. cw[=i]nan, [=a]cw[=i]nan, to waste or dwindle away.]1. To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; -- said of flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions; as, to quench flame; to quench a candle; to quench thirst, love, hate, etc. Ere our blood shall quench that fire. --Shak. The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the wonder of her infamy. --Shak. 2. To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering. Syn: To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.
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