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stifle |
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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