slake

slake · verb¹

1. Old English · derived fromslæc“slack”
2. Old English · inherited fromsleacian
3. Middle English · inherited fromslaken“to render slack, to slake”
4. English todayslake

From Middle English slaken (“to render slack, to slake”), from Old English sleacian, from Old English slæc (“slack”). Unrelated to, but possibly influenced by, the Old Norse sløkkva (“to extinguish”), compare Swedish släcka in the phrase släcka sin törst (“quench one's thirst”), släcka elden (“put out the fire”), and släckt kalk (“slaked lime”).

slake · verb, noun²

Probably connected with Icelandic sleikja, "to lick", and German schlecken (“to lick”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14ᵗʰc. To satisfy (thirst, or other desires).
• from 14ᵗʰc. To cool (something) with water or another liquid.
• 11ᵗʰ–17ᵗʰc. Of a person: to become less energetic, to slacken in one's efforts.
• 11ᵗʰ–16ᵗʰc. To slacken; to become relaxed or loose.
• 14ᵗʰ–19ᵗʰc. To become less intense; to weaken, decrease in force.