Quicken
['kwɪk(ə)n] or ['kwɪkən]
Definition
(verb.) show signs of life; 'the fetus quickened'.
(verb.) give life or energy to; 'The cold water invigorated him'.
Typed by Hannah--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) To make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state; hence, to excite; to, stimulate; to incite.
(a.) To make lively, active, or sprightly; to impart additional energy to; to stimulate; to make quick or rapid; to hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken one's steps or thoughts; to quicken one's departure or speed.
(a.) To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper; as, to quicken the sheer, that is, to make its curve more pronounced.
(v. i.) To come to life; to become alive; to become vivified or enlivened; hence, to exhibit signs of life; to move, as the fetus in the womb.
(v. i.) To move with rapidity or activity; to become accelerated; as, his pulse quickened.
Checked by Anita
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Vivify, revive, resuscitate, reinvigorate, refresh, make alive, give life to.[2]. Hasten, accelerate, speed, hurry, expedite, despatch.[3]. Stimulate, sharpen, excite, incite.
Typist: Terrence
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Accelerate, animate, revive, reinvigorate, resuscitate, vivify, stimulate,hurry, hasten, urge, excite, promote, expedite
ANT:Retard, delay, encumber, clog, drag, detain, discourage, allay
Checked by Cindy
Examples
- And it was this duality in feeling which he created in her, that made a fine hate of him quicken in her bowels. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- It was no longer in Emma's power to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures. Jane Austen. Emma.
- In that case, I observed, we can quicken our march; why adhere to a plan whose dilatory proceeding you already disapprove? Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- I quickened my pace, and, passing among them, wondering at their looks, went hurriedly in. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Her quickened sense could interpret every sound of motion: now he was at the hat-stand--now at the very room-door. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Quickened by the encreasing storm, we had hastened our return, our little charge was placed before Adrian on his horse. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Her slight frame became nerved; her distinguished face quickened with scorn. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- He quickened his pace on seeing Mr Boffin already at the place of meeting, and was soon at his side. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The hysterical passion swelled in her bosom--her quickened convulsive breathing almost beat on my face, as she held me back at the door. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- His breathing was a little quickened; but he repressed all other signs of agitation. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- The eagerness of a listener quickens the tongue of a narrator. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- A plentiful subsistence, therefore, it has been concluded, relaxes, and a scanty one quickens their industry. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The atmosphere was grey and translucent, the birds sang sharply on the young twigs, the earth would be quickening and hastening in growth. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- At first, it was a sort of stupefaction; but every moment was quickening her perception of the horrible evil. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Quickening his step, he marched some yards in advance of his company. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- I am a patient sort of man, but my pulse is quickening. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Quickening their pace, they turned up a road upon the left hand. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- I am sensible of no light kindling--no life quickening--no voice counselling or cheering. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- I heard her breath quickening--I felt her hand growing cold. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
Inputed by Liza