quell 是一个动词,意思是"平息、镇压、压制",指通过力量或权威使某种骚乱、恐惧或反抗停止。
/kwɛl/
The police were called to quell the disturbance in the city center.
警方被召来平息市中心的骚乱。
She took a deep breath to quell the rising panic in her chest, reminding herself that she had prepared thoroughly for the interview.
她深吸一口气来压制胸中涌起的恐慌,提醒自己已经为面试做了充分准备。
quell 源自古英语 cwellan,原意为"杀死、毁灭"。这个词与德语中的 quälen(折磨)同源。随着时间推移,词义逐渐从"杀死"弱化为"压制、平息",不再带有致命的含义,而更多地表示制止或消除某种不安定的状态。