QUELL
/kwɛl/Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2023
Meaning
To subdue, put down, or silence (someone or something); to force (someone) to submit.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-der. Proto-Germanic *kwelaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *kwaljaną Proto-West Germanic *kwalljan Old English cwellan Middle English quellen English quell 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.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: