quell

quell · verb, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷelH-
2. Proto-Germanic*kwelaną
3. Proto-Germanic*kwaljaną
4. Proto-West Germanic*kwalljan
5. Old Englishcwellan
6. Middle Englishquellen
7. English todayquell

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 · noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷelH-
2. Proto-West Germanic*kwalljā
3. Old Englishcwiella
4. Middle English*quelle
5. English todayquell

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.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 10th c. To subdue, put down, or silence (someone or something); to force (someone) to submit.
• from 14th c. To suppress, to put an end to (something); to extinguish.
• 9th–19th c. To kill.
• 16th–17th c. To be subdued or abated; to diminish.