quickened

Verb

quicken (third-person singular simple present quickens, present participle quickening, simple past and past participle quickened)

1. (transitive) To put (someone or something) in a state of activity or vigour comparable to life; to excite, to rouse.
   • […] Italy had quickened Cecil, not to tolerance, but to irritation. He saw that the local society was narrow, but, instead of saying, "Does this very much matter?" he rebelled, and tried to substitute for it the society he called broad.1908, E[dward] M[organ] Forster, “Cecil as a Humourist”, in A Room with a View, London: Edward Arnold, →OCLC, part II, page 170

   Synonyms:

   motivate, stir up, animate, arouse, awaken, beghast, leaven, bright, brighten, cheer

2. (transitive) To inspire or stimulate (an action, a feeling, etc.).
   • For ſurely, a rich Land, guardleſs and undefended, muſt needs have been a double Incitement, and ſuch an one, as might not only admit, but even invite the Enemy. It was like a fruitful Garden, or a fair Vineyard without an Hedge, that quickens the Appetite to enjoy ſo tempting, and withal ſo eaſy a...1667; first published 1692, Robert South, “A Sermon Preached at the Consecration of a Chapel”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions. […], volume I, London: […] J[ohn] H[eptinstall] for...

   Synonyms:

   instigate, spark off, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send, sting, bring about

3. (transitive) To stimulate or assist the fermentation of (an alcoholic beverage, dough, etc.).
4. (also, figuratively, literary, transitive) To give life to (someone or something never alive or once dead); to animate, to resurrect, to revive.
   • Whoſoever will goo about to ſave his lyfe⸝ shall looſe it: And whoſoever ſhall looſe his life⸝ ſhall quycken it.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Gospell off S. Luke xvij:[33], folio cv, verso

   Synonyms:

   enliven, vitalise, vivify

5. (archaic, transitive) To make or help (something) to burn.
   • […] she
     Quickened the fire and laid the board, […]1870, William Morris, “December: The Fostering of Aslaug”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, part IV, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 75

   Synonyms:

   aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up, ignite, inflame, enkindle, light, light up

6. (obsolete, transitive) To make (a drug, liquor, etc.) more effective or stimulating.
   • Coole Violets, and Orpine growing ſtill,
     Embathed Balme, and chearfull Galingale,
     Freſh Coſtmarie, and breathfull Camomill,
     Poppie, and drink-quickning Setuale, […]1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC

See all 20 meanings of quicken