Meaning
3 sensesA subduing.
A source, especially a spring.
An emotion or sensation which rises suddenly.
Examples
10 sentencesWhat passion cannot music raise and quell?
What passions cannot music raise or quell?
deWelche Leidenschaften vermag die Musik nicht zu steigern oder zu unterdrücken? — Yorwba
How do I quell my righteous indignation?
The authorities need to quell the outbreak.
The authorities sent in troops to quell the riot.
Origin
From Middle English quellen, from Old English cwellan (“to kill”), from Proto-West GermaniFrom 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.
From Middle English *quelle (suggested by the verb quellen (“to well up; gush forth”)), from Old English cwylla, cwiella (“spring; source”), from Proto-West Germanic *kwalljā (“spring, well”). Compare German Quelle.
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