quell

/kwɛl/

Etymology

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.

quell means A subduing. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 74 out of 100.

quell is pronounced /kwɛl/.

Why “quell” is a great word

QUELL — [Verb] To decisively suppress or put an end to an active disturbance, uprising, or strong emotion. From Middle English quellen, from Old English cwellan ("to kill"), from Proto-West Germanic *kwalljan, from Proto-Germanic *kwaljaną ("to make die; kill"), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- ("to throw, pierce, stab"). Unlike "suppress," which implies a sustained, grinding pressure, or "quench," which satisfies a physical thirst or flame, "quell" is a decisive, terminal stroke against an active force. It is the captain's shouted order that silences the mutinous deck, the martial thud of a riot shield ending a chant, the iron-handed calm that follows a scream—a victory that always bears the faint, metallic scent of its violent origins.

noun

A subduing.“The quell of the rebellion raised Justinian to the acme of power.”
A source, especially a spring.“And when they had eaten, and sat resting in a grotto, he was still singing, and she was the goddess of his Muse, — the quell of living waters out of which he drew fresh strength for new lays.”
An emotion or sensation which rises suddenly.“A quell of strength over took Robin with each of his words. She was about to fall apart, but Jacob was as brave as a warrior going into battle.”

verb

To subdue, put down, or silence (someone or something); to force (someone) to submit.“The nation obeyed the call, rallied round the sovereign, and enabled him to quell the disaffected minority.”
To suppress, to put an end to (something); to extinguish.“to quell grief”
To kill.“Like barbarous miſcreants, they quelled Virgins vnto death, […]”
To be subdued or abated; to diminish.“Winter's wrath begins to quell.”
To die.“Yet he did quake and quaver, like to quell.”