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Webster 1913 Edition


Quench

Quench

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Quenched
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Quenching
.]
[OE.
quenchen
, AS.
cwencan
in
ācwencan
, to extinguish utterly, causative of
cwincan
,
ācwincan
, to decrease, disappear; cf. AS.
cwīnan
,
ācwīnan
, to waste or dwindle away.]
1.
To extinguish; to overwhelm; to make an end of; – said of flame and fire, of things burning, and figuratively of sensations and emotions;
as, to
quench
flame; to
quench
a candle; to
quench
thirst, love, hate, etc.
Ere our blood shall
quench
that fire.
Shakespeare
The supposition of the lady’s death
Will
quench
the wonder of her infamy.
Shakespeare
2.
To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.
Syn. – To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.

Quench

,
Verb.
I.
To become extinguished; to go out; to become calm or cool.
[R.]
Dost thou think in time
She will not
quench
!
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Quench

QUENCH

, v.t.
1.
To extinguish; to put out; as, to quench flame.
2.
To still; to quiet; to repress; as, to quench a passion or emotion.
3.
To allay or extinguish; as, to quench thirst.
4.
To destroy.
5.
To check; to stifle; as, to quench the Spirit.
1Thess. 5.

QUENCH

,
Verb.
I.
To cool; to become cool.
Dost thou think, in time she will not quench? [Not in use.]

Definition 2024


quench

quench

English

Verb

quench (third-person singular simple present quenches, present participle quenching, simple past and past participle quenched)

  1. (transitive) To satisfy, especially an actual or figurative thirst.
    The library quenched her thirst for knowledge.
    • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4
      I began also to feel very hungry, as not having eaten for twenty-four hours; and worse than that, there was a parching thirst and dryness in my throat, and nothing with which to quench it.
  2. (transitive) To extinguish or put out (as a fire or light.)
    Then the MacManus went down. The sudden quench of the white light was how I knew it. — Saul Bellow
  3. (transitive) To cool rapidly by dipping into a bath of coolant, as a blacksmith quenching hot iron.
    The swordsmith quenched the sword in an oil bath so that it wouldn't shatter.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

quench (plural quenches)

  1. (physics) The abnormal termination of operation of a superconducting magnet, occurring when part of the superconducting coil enters the normal (resistive) state.