quell

n. Murder. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

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 ]