repel

English

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

• enPR: rĭ-pĕlʹ, IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈpɛl/

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• Rhymes: -ɛl
• Hyphenation: re‧pel

Verb

repel (third-person singular simple present repels, present participle repelling, simple past and past participle repelled)

1. (transitive, now rare) To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: , 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by 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.

2. (transitive) To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.).
3. (transitive) To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.).
4. (transitive) To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
   • 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.

5. (transitive, physics) To force away by means of a repulsive force.
6. (transitive) To cause repulsion or dislike in; to disgust.
   • 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.

7. (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

• attract

Related terms

• repellency
• repellent
• repulse
• repulsion
• repulsive

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

• Epler, Lepre, leper

Catalan

Alternative forms

• repèl (pre-2016 spelling)

Etymology

From re- +‎ pèl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central)
• IPA^(key): (Balearic)
• IPA^(key): (Valencian)

Noun

repel m (plural repels)

1. a hair out of place
2. (woodworking) snag
3. (dialectal) hangnail

   Synonym: repeló

Derived terms

Further reading

• “repel” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.