1. [v]  satisfy (thirst); "The cold water quenched his thirst"
2. [v]  lessen the intensity of; calm; as of anxieties and fears

ALLAY is a 5 letter word that starts with A.

1. \Al*lay"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Allayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Allaying}.] [OE. alaien, aleggen, to lay down, put down,
   humble, put an end to, AS. [=a]lecgan; [=a]- (cf. Goth. us-,
   G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lecgan to lay; but confused with
   old forms of allege, alloy, alegge. See {Lay}.]
   1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to
      quell; to calm; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay
      the tumult of the passions.
   2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the
      severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity.
            It would allay the burning quality of that fell
            poison.                               --Shak.
   Syn: To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate;
        subdue; destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See
        {Alleviate}.
   

2. \Al*lay"\, v. t.
   To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. ``When the
   rage allays.'' --Shak.
   

3. \Al*lay"\, n.
   Alleviation; abatement; check. [Obs.]
   

4. \Al*lay"\, n.
   Alloy. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   

5. \Al*lay"\, v. t.
   To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to
   deteriorate. [Archaic] --Fuller.