4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stifle  \Sti"fle\,  v.  i. 
  To  die  by  reason  of  obstruction  of  the  breath,  or  because 
  some  noxious  substance  prevents  respiration. 
 
  You  shall  stifle  in  your  own  report.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stifle  \Sti"fle\,  n.  [From  {Stiff}.]  (Far.) 
  The  joint  next  above  the  hock,  and  near  the  flank,  in  the 
  hind  leg  of  the  horse  and  allied  animals;  the  joint 
  corresponding  to  the  knee  in  man;  --  called  also  {stifle 
  joint}.  See  Illust.  under  {Horse}. 
 
  {Stifle  bone},  a  small  bone  at  the  stifle  joint;  the  patella, 
  or  kneepan. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stifle  \Sti"fle\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Stifled};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Stifling}.]  [Freq.  of  OE  stif  stiff;  cf  Icel.  st[=i]fla  to 
  dam  up.] 
  1.  To  stop  the  breath  of  by  crowding  something  into  the 
  windpipe,  or  introducing  an  irrespirable  substance  into 
  the  lungs;  to  choke;  to  suffocate;  to  cause  the  death  of 
  by  such  means  as  to  stifle  one  with  smoke  or  dust. 
 
  Stifled  with  kisses,  a  sweet  death  he  dies. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  I  took  my  leave  being  half  stifled  with  the 
  closeness  of  the  room  --Swift. 
 
  2.  To  stop;  to  extinguish;  to  deaden;  to  quench;  as  to 
  stifle  the  breath;  to  stifle  a  fire  or  flame. 
 
  Bodies  .  .  .  stifle  in  themselves  the  rays  which 
  they  do  not  reflect  or  transmit.  --Sir  I. 
  Newton. 
 
  3.  To  suppress  the  manifestation  or  report  of  to  smother;  to 
  conceal  from  public  knowledge;  as  to  stifle  a  story;  to 
  stifle  passion. 
 
  I  desire  only  to  have  things  fairly  represented  as 
  they  really  are  no  evidence  smothered  or  stifled. 
  --Waterland. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  stifle 
  n  :  joint  between  the  femur  and  tibia  in  a  quadruped; 
  corresponds  to  the  human  knee  [syn:  {knee}] 
  v  1:  conceal,  suppress,  or  hide;  "smother  a  yawn"  [syn:  {smother}, 
  {muffle}] 
  2:  smother  or  suppress;  "Stifle  your  curiosity"  [syn:  {dampen}] 
  [ant:  {stimulate}] 

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