quell

Definitions

1. 1.To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser.
2. 2.To take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] Spenser. The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. Chaucer.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.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.
5. 5.Murder. [Obs.] Shak.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "quell" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is quell.

• What is to be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. [R.] Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser called?
• What is to take the life of; to kill. [Obs.] Spenser. The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. Chaucer called?
• What is 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 called?