v. Obs. For forms see QUENCH v. [OE. ācwęncan, f. A- pref. 1 intensive + cwęncan to QUENCH. Orig. trans., but afterwards used as intr.]
1. To quench, extinguish, put out (fire, light, life).
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 8. Ure leoht-fatu synt acwencte.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 135. Weter acwencheð fur.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 124. Lutel fur was ter þer of, þet a puf acweinte.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 394. Aquykye · þat was aqueynt þorw synne.
1482. Warkw., Chron., 22. It wulde seme aquenched oute; and sodenly it brent fervently ageyne.
2. intr. To go out, become extinguished.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 426. Þe Holi Gostes fur acwencheð, hwon þe brondes … beoð i-sundred.
c. 1305. St. Dunstan, 6, in E. E. P. (1862). Here liȝt aqueinte oueral.
1485. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, III. xxxv. (1527), 132. The fyre of the sacrefyce acquenched.
3. trans. To quench, satisfy, appease (appetite).
c. 1300. Vox & Wolf, 13, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 51. He thohute his hounger aquenche … mid mete.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 10. Me thinketh My thurst shall never be acqueint.
4. fig. To extinguish, put an end to.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 135. Alswa weter acwencheð fur, alswa elmes dede acwencheð sunne.
c. 1305. St. Katherine, 78, in E. E. P. (1862). On of oure knaues miȝte hire resouns sone aquenche.
1485. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, VII. xxxvii. (1527), 306. With his mylde lyuing and holy bedes he aqueynt many trybulacyons of holy chyrche.
1578. Louer’s Plight, in Gorgious Gallery. The colde that should acquench the heat.
b. (with personal obj. by inverted construction.)
c. 1480. Childe of Bristowe, 476, in E. P. P. (1864), 128. To aqueynche me of mykel care.
