quell β to put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force
Pronunciation (IPA): /kwel/
Example Sentences
- The teacher's stern look was enough to quell the noisy classroom.
- She ate three pieces of cake to quell her chocolate cravings, but it only made things worse.
- The police used tear gas to quell the riot.
quell
VERB[/kwel/]
to put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force
The king rides out to quell the rebellion before it spreads further.
Officer quells the protesters' yells with authority
Ring the bell to quell the spell!
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π€Pronunciation
π³Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'cwellan' meaning 'to kill or destroy,' derived from Proto-Germanic 'kwalljan.' The word's meaning evolved from literal killing to the more figurative sense of suppressing or extinguishing something like a rebellion.
Breakdown
quell (base verb from Old English cwellan) - no productive morphemes in modern English; the word functions as an irreducible root meaning 'to suppress or put an end to'
π΅Rhyme
πCollocations
πExamples
βThe teacher's stern look was enough to quell the noisy classroom.β
βShe ate three pieces of cake to quell her chocolate cravings, but it only made things worse.β
βThe police used tear gas to quell the riot.β
βNothing could quell his mother's anxiety about his first day at school - she called five times before lunch.β
πRelated Words
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