quash
UK[kwɒʃ]US[kwɑːʃ]
v
to reject or stop something from continuing, especially by legal or official action
v
to defeat or suppress something completely, such as a rebellion or an idea
Etymology
the word 'quash' has a journey rooted in physical action evolving into abstract legal and authoritative force. its ultimate origin is the latin verb 'quatere', meaning 'to shake'. this gave rise to the frequentative form 'quassare', meaning 'to shake violently' or 'shatter'. entering english via anglo-norman and old french legal terminology, the meaning shifted from the physical sense of breaking to the metaphorical sense of breaking the force of a legal proceeding or decisively suppressing an uprising. thus, the modern sense of authoritatively rejecting or suppressing something retains the core idea of a decisive, shattering action applied to abstract entities like rulings or revolts.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it entered english from the old french verb 'quasser' or 'casser', meaning 'to annul' or 'to break', which itself derived from the latin verb 'quassare', an intensive form of 'quatere' meaning 'to shake'.
Examples
the court of appeal moved to quash the conviction.
the government acted swiftly to quash the nascent rebellion.
rumors of a merger were firmly quashed by the company's CEO.