v. t. [ imp. & p. p. quickened p. pr. & vb. n. Quickening. ] [ AS. cwician. See Quick, a. ] 1. To make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state; hence, to excite; to, stimulate; to incite. [ 1913 Webster ] The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] Like a fruitful garden without an hedge, that quickens the appetite to enjoy so tempting a prize. South. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To make lively, active, or sprightly; to impart additional energy to; to stimulate; to make quick or rapid; to hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken one's steps or thoughts; to quicken one's departure or speed. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Shipbuilding) To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper; as, to quicken the sheer, that is, to make its curve more pronounced. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- To revive; resuscitate; animate; reinvigorate; vivify; refresh; stimulate; sharpen; incite; hasten; accelerate; expedite; dispatch; speed. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
