quell Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb suppress or crush completely
squelch; quench.
- squelch any sign of dissent
- quench a rebellion
verb overcome or allay
appease; stay.
- quell my hunger

See Quail to cower.

imperfect & past participle Quelled ; present participle & verbal noun Quelling

To die. Obs.
Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell. Spenser.
To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate. R.
Winter's wrath begins to quell. Spenser.

OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.

To take the life of; to kill. Obs. Spenser.
The ducks cried as [if] men would them quelle. Chaucer.
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.
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.