Quench \Quench\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quenched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Quenching.]
[OE. quenchen, AS. cwencan in [=a]cwencan, to
extinguish utterly, causative of cwincan, [=a]cwincan, to
decrease, disappear; cf. AS. cw[=i]nan, [=a]cw[=i]nan, 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. --Shak.
The supposition of the lady's death Will quench the
wonder of her infamy. --Shak.
2. To cool suddenly, as heated steel, in tempering.
Syn: To extinguish; still; stifle; allay; cool; check.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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