Word: quell

Associations

"Quell" means to put an end to something, often a feeling or a situation, usually by calming or suppressing it.

• Example 1: The teacher tried to quell the noisy classroom by asking everyone to be silent. Here, "quell" indicates the action of calming down noise.
• Example 2: The government took steps to quell the protests before they escalated. In this case, it means to suppress or control the protests.
• Example 3: She took a deep breath to quell her anxiety before the performance. This shows the action of calming personal feelings of anxiety.

A well-known synonym for "quell" is "suppress." The main difference is that "suppress" often has a stronger connotation of force and control, while "quell" can include a gentler sense of calming.

Substitution

Instead of "quell," you could use:

• "calm" - suggests making something peaceful without the idea of force.
• "extinguish" - often used for putting out a fire or stopping something, but can imply a complete end rather than calming.
• "alleviate" - focuses on reducing discomfort rather than stopping it completely.

Deconstruction

• The root of "quell" comes from Middle English "quellen," which means to kill or extinguish.
• It is related to the Old English word "cwellan," meaning "to kill."
• Historically, the word has evolved to focus more on suppression and calming rather than the violent connotation it originally had.

Inquiry

• Think about a time when you had to quell your own emotions, like anger or fear. What did you do?
• Can you think of a situation in the news where someone or something needed to be quelled?
• How does the word "quell" relate to feelings? Does it suggest a temporary fix or a permanent solution?