repel
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: repèl
Etymology
From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal.
Pronunciation
Verb
repel (third-person singular simple present repels, present participle repelling, simple past and past participle repelled)
- (transitive, now rare) To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc. [from 15th c.]
- 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 7:
- It is some satisfaction to him that is repelled, that dignities, honours, offices, are not alwayes given by desert or worth, but for love, affinitie, friendship, affection, great mens letters, or as commonly they are bought and sold.
- (transitive) To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.). [from 15th c.]
- (transitive) To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.). [from 15th c.]
- (transitive) To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.). [from 15th c.]
- 2011 May 19, Ian Traynor, The Guardian:
- In nearby Zintan, rebels repelled an advance by Gaddafi's forces, killing eight and taking one prisoner, a local activist said.
- (transitive, physics) To force away by means of a repulsive force. [from 17th c.]
- (transitive) To cause repulsion or dislike in; to disgust. [from 18th c.]
- 2008 January 26, The Guardian:
- However, while the idea of a free holiday appeals enormously, I am frankly repelled by the idea of spending a couple of weeks in your company.
- (transitive, sports) To save (a shot).
- 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1-0 Everton”, in BBC Sport:
- Arsenal pressed forward again after half-time but other than a venomous Walcott shot that Howard repelled with a fine one-handed save, the hosts offered little cutting edge.
Conjugation
Antonyms
Related terms
Translations
to put off
|
to ward off
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to drive away
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physics: to force away
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to cause repulsion or dislike
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Further reading
- “repel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “repel”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “repel”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Anagrams
Alternative forms
- repèl (pre-2016 spelling)
Etymology
Pronunciation
Noun
repel m (plural repels)
- a hair out of place
- (woodworking) snag
- (dialectal) hangnail
- Synonym: repeló
Derived terms
- a repel
- repelenc
- repeló
- repelós
Further reading
- “repel” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
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