What does quickener mean?
A quickener is something that makes activity more rapid or vigorous. In its older and most distinctive use, the word denotes a tonic or medicine taken to stimulate the appetite, often described as a mild or bitter quickener. The word can also be applied figuratively to music, encouragement, or another influence that produces greater energy or speed. It is not common in contemporary speech and may sound old-fashioned, especially when connected with patent medicines or appetite stimulants. Understanding quickener therefore requires recognizing both its literal connection with quickness and its historical pharmaceutical use. The related verb quicken has a broader modern range of meanings, including to become more active, to stimulate, and to make something move faster.
nounA substance or agent that makes something faster or more vigorous, especially a stimulant taken to increase the appetite.
- Something that quickens or stimulates; especially a medicine or tonic intended to increase the appetite.
"The bitter tonic was advertised as a gentle quickener before breakfast."
"The pharmacist recommended a mild quickener for patients with poor appetites."
"A brisk tune can serve as a quickener before a busy morning."
The plural is used for multiple quickening agents or substances.
"The shop displayed several old bottles of appetite quickeners."
A quickener literally makes things quick: it was once a fitting label for medicines sold as appetite stimulants.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quickener come from?
The noun quickener was formed in English by adding the suffix -er to quicken, producing an agent noun for something that quickens or stimulates. The suffix -er is especially productive in English for naming tools, substances, and agents that perform an action. The older sense referring to an appetite stimulant belongs to the vocabulary of medicines and tonics.
How quickener is actually used
Quickener is uncommon in modern English and sounds old-fashioned, formal, or literary. It is most readily understood as an appetite stimulant, though it can refer more generally to anything that makes a process faster or more vigorous.
Easily confused with quickener
A quickener is an agent that causes quickening, whereas a quickening is the act of becoming faster or more vigorous or the process of stimulating the appetite.