Obs. [OE. cwalu = ON. kvǫl (stem kval-) torment, torture, f. *kwal- ablaut-var. of *kwel-: see QUELE, QUELL. The vowel is long in OS. quâla (MDu. quâle, Du. kwaal, LG. quaal), OHG. quâla, chwâla, etc. (MHG. quâle, quâl, etc., G. qual).] Death, destruction, mortality.

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c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. xi. [xiv.] (1890), 138. Se cyning mid arleasre cwale of sleʓen wæs.

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c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.) xxix. 8. Drihten, hu nyt is þe min slæʓe, oþþe min cwalu.

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c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 121. God ne sparede na his aȝene berne; ac ȝef hine to cwale for us alle.

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c. 1205.  Lay., 31807. Þat quale com on orue vnimete swiðe.

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  b.  Comb., as quale-house, house of torture; quale-sithe, death from pestilence.

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c. 1205.  Lay., 727. Vt of þon quarterne, of þan quale-huse [c. 1275 cwal-huse] Ibid., 3769. Ibid., 31900. Heo … cudden heore cunne of heore quale-siðe.

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