to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.).
2.
to thrust back or away.
3.
to resist effectively (an attack, onslaught, etc.).
4.
to keep off or out; fail to mix with: Water and oil repel each other.
5.
to resist the absorption or passage of (water or other liquid): This coat repels rain.
6.
to refuse to have to do with; resist involvement in: to repel temptation.
7.
to refuse to accept or admit; reject: to repel a suggestion.
8.
to discourage the advances of (a person): He repelled me with his harshness.
9.
to cause distaste or aversion in: Their untidy appearance repelled us.
10.
to push back or away by a force, as one body acting upon another (opposed to attract): The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another.
–verb (used without object)
11.
to act with a force that drives or keeps away something.
12.
to cause distaste or aversion.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME repellen < L repellere to drive back, equiv. to re-re-+ pellere to drive, push; see repulse]
c.1421, "to drive away, remove," from O.Fr. repeller, from L. repellere "to drive back," from re- "back" + pellere "to drive, strike" (see pulse (1)). Meaning "to affect (a person) with distaste or aversion" is from 1817. Repellent (adj.) is recorded from 1643, from L. repellentem, prp. of repellere; originally of medicines (that reduced tumors); meaning "distasteful, disagreeable" first recorded 1797. The noun sense of "substance that repels insects" first recorded 1908.
Re*peal"\ (r?-p?l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repealed (-p?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repealing.] [OF. repeler to call back, F. rappeler; pref. re- re- + OF. apeler, F. appeler, to call, L. appellare. See Appeal, and. cf. Repel.]1. To recall; to summon again, as persons. [Obs.] The banished Bolingbroke repeals himself, And with uplifted arms is safe arrived. --Shak. 2. To recall, as a deed, will, law, or statute; to revoke; to rescind or abrogate by authority, as by act of the legislature; as, to repeal a law. 3. To suppress; to repel. [Obs.] Whence Adam soon repealed The doubts that in his heart arose. --Milton. Syn: To abolish; revoke; rescind; recall; annul; abrogate; cancel; reverse. See Abolish.
Re**pel"\ (r?-p?l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repelled (-p?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repelling.] [L. repellere, repulsum; pref. re- re- + pellere to drive. See Pulse a beating, and cf. Repulse, Repeal.]1. To drive back; to force to return; to check the advance of; to repulse as, to repel an enemy or an assailant. Hippomedon repelled the hostile tide. --Pope. They repelled each other strongly, and yet attracted each other strongly. --Macaulay. 2. To resist or oppose effectually; as, to repel an assault, an encroachment, or an argument. [He] gently repelled their entreaties. --Hawthorne. Syn: Tu repulse; resist; oppose; reject; refuse.
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