quell

CEFRC1

/kwɛl/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To stop a protest, feeling, or problem by force or persuasion.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To kill.

Examples

  • The authorities sent in troops to quell the riot.

  • What passion cannot music raise and quell?

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To suppress, to put an end to (something); to extinguish.

  2. To subdue, put down, or silence (someone or something); to force (someone) to submit.

  3. To be subdued or abated; to diminish.

More examples

In context

  • to quell the tumult of the soul

  • to quell grief

  • Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The security forces used tear gas to blank the violent crowd, restoring order.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English quellen, from Old English cwellan (“to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *kwalljan, from Proto-Germanic *kwaljaną (“to make die; kill”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-. Cognate with German quälen (“to torment; agonise; smite”), Swedish kvälja (“to torment”), Icelandic kvelja (“to torture; torment”). Compare also Old Armenian կեղ (keł, “sore, ulcer”), Old Church Slavonic жаль (žalĭ, “pain”). See also kill, which may be its doublet.