— slakable, slakeable , adj. — slakeless , adj.
/slayk/ , v. , slaked, slaking .
v.t.
1. to allay (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by satisfying.
2. to cool or refresh: He slaked his lips with ice.
3. to make less active, vigorous, intense, etc.: His calm manner slaked their enthusiasm.
4. to cause disintegration of (lime) by treatment with water. Cf. slaked lime .
5. Obs. to make loose or less tense; slacken.
v.i.
6. (of lime) to become slaked.
7. Archaic. to become less active, intense, vigorous, etc.; abate.
[ bef. 1000; ME slaken to mitigate, allay, moderate, lessen one's efforts, OE slacian to slacken, lessen one's efforts, equiv. to slaec SLACK 1 + -ian causative v. suffix ]
Syn. 1. satisfy, quench, gratify, relieve.