v.
Pronunciation: ' kwel
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, to kill, quell, from Old English cwellan to kill; akin to Old High German quellen to torture, kill, qu ā la 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