- slake
- slake (v.) O.E. slacian "slacken an effort," from slæc "lax" (see SLACK (Cf. slack)). Sense of "allay" (in reference to thirst, hunger, desire) first recorded early 14c. Related: Slaked; slaking.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
slake
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Slake — Slake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Slaked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Slaking}.] [OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See {Slack}, v. & a.] 1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. And slake the heavenly fire.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Slake — Slake, v. i. 1. To go out; to become extinct. His flame did slake. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 2. To abate; to become less decided. [R.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. To slacken; to become relaxed. When the body s strongest sinews slake. [R.] Sir J.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
slake — [sleık] v [T] literary [: Old English; Origin: slacian to slacken , from sleac; SLACK1] 1.) slake your thirst to drink so that you are not thirsty any more 2.) slake a desire/craving etc to satisfy a desire etc … Dictionary of contemporary English
slake — [ sleık ] verb transitive MAINLY LITERARY to make someone happy by giving them what they want or need: Nothing will slake the public s appetite for celebrity gossip. slake your thirst to drink until you are no longer thirsty … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
slake — slake·less; slake; slake·able; … English syllables
slake — index allay, assuage, satisfy (fulfill), soothe Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
slake — ► VERB 1) satisfy (a desire, thirst, etc.). 2) combine (quicklime) with water to produce calcium hydroxide. ORIGIN Old English, «become less eager» … English terms dictionary
slake — [slāk] vt. slaked, slaking [ME slakien < OE slacian < slæc, SLACK1] 1. to allay or make (thirst, desire, etc.) less active or intense by satisfying; assuage; satisfy 2. to cause (a fire) to die down or go out 3. to produce a chemical change … English World dictionary
slake — UK [sleɪk] / US verb [transitive] Word forms slake : present tense I/you/we/they slake he/she/it slakes present participle slaking past tense slaked past participle slaked mainly literary to make someone happy by giving them what they want or… … English dictionary
slake — verb (slaked; slaking) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English slacian, from sleac slack Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. archaic subside, abate 2. to become slaked ; crumble < l … New Collegiate Dictionary
