Main Entry: ¹quell

Pronunciation: \ˈkwel\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English, to kill, quell, from Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old High German quellen to torture, kill, quāla torment, Lithuanian gelti to hurt

Date: 13th century

1 : to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity <quell a riot>
2 : quiet, pacify <quell fears>

— quell·er noun