US /ˈkwɛlɚ/ UK /ˈkwɛlə/
noun Freq #73414

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a person or thing that suppresses, subdues, or puts an end to resistance, disorder, or a strong feeling

    The general was celebrated as the queller of the rebellion.

  2. 2
    noun

    archaic: a killer or slayer

    The ballad praised Jack as a queller of giants.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a person or thing that... suppressorsubduerpacifier
2 noun · archaic: a killer or slayer killerslayer
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms manqueller
Related forms quell

Etymology

From Middle English queller and Old English cwellere, 'killer,' based on cwellan, 'to kill.' As quell softened from 'kill' to 'subdue or suppress,' queller likewise developed its common later sense.

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