Basic Details
Word: Quell
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To calm down or stop something, especially something bad or troublesome.
Synonyms: Suppress, subdue, pacify
Antonyms: Agitate, intensify, provoke
Idioms and Phrases
- Quell the storm: To calm a chaotic or troubled situation. Example: "The teacher managed to quell the storm of arguments among the students."
- Quell your fears: To calm your worries or anxieties. Example: "He took deep breaths to quell his fears before the big performance."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The police were called to quell the disturbance in the town square.
Example 2: After a long day, she needed a cup of tea to quell her exhaustion.
Example 3: He spoke softly to quell the crying child in his arms.
Fun Fact
The word "quell" comes from the Old English "cwellen," which means "to kill" or "to put to death." Over time, the meaning has shifted to imply calming or suppressing rather than harming.
Famous Quote
"He who angers you conquers you." - Elizabeth Kenny. This relates to the word "quell" as it suggests that calming one's anger can lead to control over the situation.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "quell" mean?
a) To start something
b) To calm down or stop something
c) To celebrate
d) To ignore
Answer: b) To calm down or stop something
2. Which of these is a synonym of "quell"?
a) Agitate
b) Suppress
c) Increase
d) Encourage
Answer: b) Suppress
3. What is an antonym of "quell"?
a) Subdue
b) Alleviate
c) Intensify
d) Pacify
Answer: c) Intensify
4. Which sentence uses "quell" correctly?
a) The teacher will quell the students excitement with a surprise quiz.
b) I will quell my homework tomorrow.
c) The chef will quell the flavours by adding more spice.
d) She tried to quell the noise from the party next door.
Answer: d) She tried to quell the noise from the party next door.
5. Which idiom means to calm a difficult situation?
a) Quell the storm
b) Jump the gun
c) Beat around the bush
d) Take a rain check
Answer: a) Quell the storm
