27 October 2014

quell

[kwel]

verb (used with object)
1. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish:
The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.
2. to vanquish; subdue.
3. to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.):
The child’s mother quelled his fears of the thunder.

Origin

Middle English, Old English
900 before 900; Middle English quellen, Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old Norse kvelja to torment, German quälen to vex; cf. kill1

Related forms
quellable, adjective
queller, noun
unquellable, adjective
unquelled, adjective

Can be confused
kill, kiln, quell.

Synonyms
1, 2. crush, quash, overpower, overcome, defeat, conquer, quench. 3. calm, pacify, compose

Antonyms
1, 2. foster. 3. agitate.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the web for quell
– He practiced endlessly as well, to quell his nervousness.
– Her bitter Love shall quell me at the last.
– If the monsoon lives up to expectations, the prospect of a good summer harvest will help to quell food inflation.

Today’s quote

I don’t think that I’m over his influence but they probably don’t look like Picassos; Picasso himself would probably have thrown up looking at my pictures.

– Roy Lichtenstein

On this day

27 October 1728 – birth of Captain James Cook, British explorer. Made three major voyages in which he discovered many of the islands of the south pacific, including the east coast of Australia. Cooktown, Queensland, is named after him. The house he grew up in was relocated from Yorkshire, England, to Melbourne, Australia and is open to visits (now known as Captain Cook’s Cottage and is situated in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne). Died 14 February 1779 after being stabbed by Hawaiians who credited their Chief Kalanimanokahoowaha (Kanaina) with the kill. Captain Cook’s body was then subjected a funeral ritual that was normally reserved for a Chief.

27 October 1923 – birthday of Roy Lichtenstein, American pop artist. Died 29 September 1997.

27 October 1927 – death of Joseph Theodore Leslie (Squizzy) Taylor, Australian gangster, earned money from sly-grog, two-up, illegal bookmaking, extortion, prostitution, cocaine dealing. Died from a gunshot wound inflicted by ‘Snowy’ Cutmore. Born 29 June 1888.