to reject, resist, or rise in arms against one's government or ruler.
6.
to resist or rise against some authority, control, or tradition.
7.
to show or feel utter repugnance: His very soul rebelled at spanking the child.
[Origin: 1250–1300; (adj.) ME < OF rebelle < L rebellis renewing a war, equiv. to re-re-+ bell(um) war + -is adj. suffix; (v.) ME rebellen (< OF rebeller) < L rebellāre; (n.) ME rebel, deriv. of the adj.]
To refuse allegiance to and oppose by force an established government or ruling authority.
To resist or defy an authority or a generally accepted convention.
To feel or express strong unwillingness or repugnance: She rebelled at the unwelcome suggestion.
n.
reb·el (rěb'əl)
One who rebels or is in rebellion: "He is the perfect recruit for fascist movements: a rebel not a revolutionary, contemptuous yet envious of the rich and involved with them"(Stanley Hoffman).
Rebel A Confederate soldier.
[Middle English rebellen, from Old French rebeller, from Latin rebellāre : re-, re- + bellāre, to make war (from bellum, war). N., Middle English, rebellious, rebel, from Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis, from rebellāre.]
1297, from O.Fr. rebelle (12c.), from L. rebellis "insurgent, rebellious," from rebellare "to rebel, wage war against," from re- "opposite, against," or perhaps "again" + bellare "wage war," from bellum "war." The noun is attested from c.1400. Meaning "supporter of the American cause in the War of Independence" is from 1775; sense of "supporter of the Southern cause in the American Civil War" is attested from April 15, 1861.
"The Southern troops, when charging or to express their delight, always yell in a manner peculiar to themselves. ... The Confederate officers declare that the rebel yell has a particular merit, and always produces a salutary and useful effect upon their adversaries. A corps is sometimes spoken of as a 'good yelling regiment.' " [A.J.L. Fremantle, "Three Months in the Southern States," 1863]
The verb (1375) is from O.Fr. rebeller, from L. rebellare.Rebellion first attested c.1340; rebellious is from 1432.
'Johnny' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; 'greyback' derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
2.
a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions) [syn: insurgent]
3.
someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action [syn: maverick]
verb
1.
take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance
In*sur"gent\, n. [Cf. F. insurgent.] A person who rises in revolt against civil authority or an established government; one who openly and actively resists the execution of laws; a rebel. Syn: See Rebel.
Reb"el\, a. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.] Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. Whoso be rebel to my judgment. --Chaucer. Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. --Milton.
Reb"el\, a. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.] Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. Whoso be rebel to my judgment. --Chaucer. Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. --Milton.
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