ENGLISH
REFERENCE

slake

v.
UK //slˈeɪk// slake Archaic
Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English slaken (“to render slack, to slake”), from Old English sleacian, from Old English slæc (“slack”). Unrelated to, but possibly influenced by, the Old Norse sløkkva (“to extinguish”), compare Swedish släcka in the phrase släcka sin törst (“quench one's thirst”), släcka elden (“put out the fire”), and släckt kalk (“slaked lime”).

Etymology 2

Probably connected with Icelandic sleikja, "to lick", and German schlecken (“to lick”).

© 2026 English Reference