Emily Dickinson Lexicon

STI'FLE, v.t. [The French etouffer, to stifle, is nearly allied to etoffe, Eng. stuff, L. stupa. But stifle seems to be more nearly allied to L. stipo and Eng. stiff and stop; all however of one family. Qu. Gr. τυφω.]

1. To suffocate; to stop the breath or action of the lungs by crowding something into the windpipe, or by infusing a substance into the lungs, or by other means; to choke; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.
2. To stop; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle respiration.
3. To oppress; to stop the breath temporarily; as, to stifle one with kisses; to be stifled in a close room or with bad air.
4. To extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle flame; to stifle a fire by smoke or by ashes.
5. To suppress; to hinder from transpiring or spreading; as, to stifle a report.
6. To extinguish; to check or restrain and destroy; to suppress; as, to stifle a civil war in its birth. – Addison.
7. To suppress or repress; to conceal; to withhold from escaping or manifestation; as, to stifle passion; to stifle grief; to stifle resentment.
8. To suppress; to destroy; as, to stifle convictions.