Qualling

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quail \Quail\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Qualled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Qualling}.] [AS. cwelan to die, perish; akin to cwalu
     violent death, D. kwaal pain, G. qual torment, OHG. quelan to
     suffer torment, Lith. gelti to hurt, gela pain. Cf. {Quell}.]
     1. To die; to perish; hence, to wither; to fade. [Obs.]
        --Spenser.


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     2. To become quelled; to become cast down; to sink under
        trial or apprehension of danger; to lose the spirit and
        power of resistance; to lose heart; to give way; to
        shrink; to cower.
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              The atheist power shall quail, and confess his
              fears. I. Taylor.
              Stouter hearts than a woman's have quailed in this
              terrible winter.                      --Longfellow.
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     Syn: to cower; flinch; shrink; quake; tremble; blench;
          succumb; yield.
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