quash
UK: kwɒʃ | US: kwɑːʃ
vt. to suppress or crush completely (e.g., a rebellion)
vt. to annul or reject as invalid (e.g., a legal decision)
The word "quash" traces back to Latin quassare, meaning "to shatter" or "to shake violently," derived from quatere (to shake). It entered English via Old French quasser, initially retaining its physical sense of crushing. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to include suppressing rebellions and nullifying legal rulings, emphasizing forceful elimination. The spelling simplified to "quash" in Middle English, preserving the core idea of decisive destruction.
The government moved swiftly to quash the uprising.
The court quashed the controversial verdict due to procedural errors.
Attempts to quash dissent only fueled public anger.
The general vowed to quash all resistance.
Her lawsuit was quashed before reaching trial.