Definition of slake

The word "slake" has an interesting etymology. It originated in the 14th century from the Old French word "esclaker," meaning "to quench" or "to slake." This Old French word is derived from the Latin "excludere," meaning "to shut out" or "to exclude." In linguistics, this is known as a semantic shift, where the meaning of a word changes over time. In Middle English, "slake" took on the sense of "to satisfy" or "to quench," often used in the context of thirst or hunger. For example, "to slake one's thirst" or "to slake one's hunger." Today, the word "slake" is primarily used in informal writing and speech, often in phrases such as "to slake your curiosity" or "to slake one's desire." Despite its relatively rare usage, the word "slake" continues to evoke a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.