Quench
/kwɛntʃ/noun
To extinguish or satisfy, especially thirst or a fire.
Did you know?In ancient times, to quench a fire was not just about extinguishing flames but also a metaphor for suppressing desires and passions, often linked to mystical rites.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
kwenkōną
“to extinguish or put out (a fire)”
Old English
OE
cwencan
“to quench or extinguish, often used in reference to fires or thirst”
Middle English
ME
quenchen
“to put out, satisfy thirst or extinguish a fire”
Early Modern English
EModE
quench
“to extinguish, satisfy thirst, or suppress (often with a sense of finality)”
Modern English
English
quench
“to satisfy (thirst) or extinguish (a fire), retaining the original intensity of the action.”