Emily Dickinson Lexicon

QUELL, v.t. [Sax. cwellan, to kill; Dan. qvæler, to stifle, suffocate, choke, stop, quell, gall, tease, torment, vex; Sw. qvälja, id.; G. quälen. The primary sense is to stop, to press or force down, and thus cause action or motion to cease.]

1. To crush; to subdue; to cause to cease; as, to quell an insurrection or sedition.
2. To quiet; to allay; to reduce to peace; as, to quell the tumult of the soul.
3. To subdue; to reduce. This quell'd her pride. – Dryden.