Webster's English Dictionary

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stifle

1. sti.fle \'sti--f*l\ n [ME] : the joint next above the hock in the hind 
   leg of a quadruped (as a horse ) corresponding to the knee in man
2. stifle \-f(*-)lin\ \-f(*-)l*r\ \-f(*-)lin-le-\ vb or sti.fling [alter. 
   of ME stuflen] 1a: to kill by depriving of oxygen : SUFFOCATE  1b1: SMOTHER 
    1b2: MUFFLE  2a: to cut off (as the voice or breath)  2b: to withhold from 
   circulation or expression : REPRESS {~R his anger} 2c: DETER, DISCOURAGE  : 
   to become suffocated by or as if by lack of oxygen : SMOTHER  - sti.fler n