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quicken Definition

quicken (kwik′ən)

transitive verb

  1. to animate; enliven; revive
  2. to arouse; stimulate; stir
  3. to cause to move more rapidly; hasten

Etymology: ME quickenen < ON kvikna, akin to OE cwician < cwicu, living: see quick

intransitive verb

  1. to become enlivened; revive
    1. to begin to show signs of life, as a fetus in the womb
    2. to enter the stage of pregnancy in which the movement of the fetus can be felt
  3. to become more rapid; speed up the pulse quickens with fear

quicken Related Forms
quick′·ener noun
quicken Synonyms

quicken

v.

  1. To hasten or cause to hasten

    accelerate, speed up, hurry; see hasten 1, 2.

  2. To come or bring to life

    animate, revive, stir, arouse, stimulate, enliven, awaken, kindle, spring, grow, rise, spring up, be revived, be resuscitated, become animated, activate, revitalize, energize, strengthen, show signs of life, return to life; see also animate 1, revive 1. See syn. study at animate.

quicken Usage Examples

Object

  • pulse: Just looking at the pictures of the car which are printed here does nothing to quicken the pulse.
  • pace: He'd taken pleasure in the man's quickening pace, the brief glance round.
  • thou: Then, now, my Lord quicken thou me according to thy Word.
  • spirit: First the Holy Spirit quickens the spirit of the man which is dead.
  • soul: The instincts of every quickened soul are after it.
  • heart: Get your hearts quickened with the Word; go to it to fetch fire.

Subject

  • spirit: Their immortal, perfected bodies are quickened by the spirit, not blood.

Preposition: into

  • life: This dead matter was quickened into life by natural law.

Modifying Another Word

  • then: Quicken then displays the Update Account Balances dialog box.
  • only: That it has won the Palme d'Or at Cannes only quickens their desire for reprisals.
  • also: It will saver your time and will also quicken up the loan process.
  • not: No more will this plea be allowed, The Lord did not quicken me to duty.
  • again: The fever was over, and Emma could harbor little fear of the pulse being quickened again by injurious courtesy.
  • well: Whilst I did have £ 300 on the current favorite Hi Dubai in the Pretty Polly and she did quicken well.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: The latter had the opportunity to quicken up in the Arc and was left for dead by HR.

Used with why or when

  • when: And my pulse quickened when, with three overs to go and Esher needing about thirty, Richie Richardson beckoned me toward him.

Preposition: in

  • pace: It should be for a quickening in the pace of reform.

Preposition: of

  • spirit: He teaches that the quickening of the Spirit precedes and alone makes possible faith in Christ.
  • pulse: I rechecked the turf again, both sides, and with a slight quickening of pulse moved the Fisher over the hole.

Preposition: by

  • spirit: Their immortal, perfected bodies are quickened by the spirit, not blood.