Word of the Day

: February 20, 2007

quail

verb KWAIL

What It Means

1 : to give way : falter

2 : to recoil in dread or terror : cower

quail in Context

Even though she quailed at the thought of rejection, Gwen asked Marcel out to dinner.

Did You Know?

"Flinch," "recoil," and "wince" are all synonyms of "quail," but each word has a slightly different use. When you flinch, you fail to endure pain or to face something dangerous or frightening with resolution ("she faced her accusers without flinching"). "Recoil" implies a start or movement away from something through shock, fear, or disgust ("he recoiled at the suggestion of stealing"). "Wince" usually suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction to something ("she winced as the bright light suddenly hit her eyes"). "Quail" implies shrinking and cowering in fear ("he quailed before the apparition").

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.