jell
[jel]
- to congeal; become jellylike in consistency.
- to become clear, substantial, or definite; crystallize: The plan began to jell once we all met to discuss it.
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- to cause to jell.
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Origin of jell
First recorded in 1820–30; back formation from jelly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for jell
Historical Examples
But Gwenny never had any cookies as good as those, and the jell is so pretty!
The Girl Scouts at HomeKatherine Keene Galt
She came back again and said, "Won't you have some of the jell, Mr. Armstrong?"
Mitch MillerEdgar Lee Masters
There was a jar of jelly on the table all sealed up, and she said, "Won't you have some of the jell?"
Mitch MillerEdgar Lee Masters
Why, there isn't an inch of me that hasn't been cut over or smashed into a jell.
Suburban SketchesWilliam Dean Howells
Cook slowly until juice will "jell" when tried on a cold plate.
Better Meals for Less MoneyMary Green
jell
gel
- to make or become gelatinous; congeal
- (intr) to assume definite formhis ideas have jelled
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- US an informal word for jelly 1
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Word Origin
C19: back formation from jelly 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for jell
v.
1830, American English, probably a back-formation of jelly (v.). Related: Jelled; jelling. Figurative sense is first attested 1908. Middle English had gelen "congeal," but it disappeared 15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper