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)