repel en · VERB
Pronunciation
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.
Meanings
-
(archaic, transitive) To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc.
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.
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:
- (transitive) To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.).
- (transitive) To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.).
-
(transitive) To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
In nearby Zintan, rebels repelled an advance by Gaddafi's forces, killing eight and taking one prisoner, a local activist said.
2011 May 19, Ian Traynor, The Guardian:
- (transitive) To force away by means of a repulsive force.
-
(transitive) To cause repulsion or dislike in; to disgust.
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.
2008 January 26, The Guardian:
-
(transitive) To save (a shot).
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.
2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1-0 Everton”, in BBC Sport:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| repel | Number=Plur, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repel | VerbForm=Inf | lexicographic | |
| repel | Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repel | Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repel | Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repel | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repelledst | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past | archaic | lexicographic |
| repelleth | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | archaic | lexicographic |
| repelling | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Number=Plur, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Mood=Sub, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repelled | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| repels | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repellest | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres | archaic | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
repeller · unrepelled · repellingness · repellingly · repellable
Relateds
repellent · repulsive · repellency · repulse · repulsion
Translations (73)
de abwehren (to save a shot (sports)) · mi wawao (to drive away) · ka განზიდვა (physics: to force away) · pl odpychać (to cause repulsion or dislike) · nl afweren (to put off) · la repellō (to put off) · fi karkottaa (to drive away) · ca refusar (to put off) · ru отталкивать (to cause repulsion or dislike) · mi ripa (to ward off) · nl afstoten (physics: to force away) · sa इङ्गति (to drive away) · ca repel·lir (to drive away) · ru отпугивать (to cause repulsion or dislike) · mi taiari (to ward off) · mi taiari (to drive away) · fi hylkiä (physics: to force away) · nl verjagen (to put off) · bg отблъсквам (physics: to force away) · fi torjua (to ward off) · pt repelir (physics: to force away) · de zurückdrängen (to drive away) · de abweisen (to put off) · de zurückweisen (to put off) · ar دَرَأَ (to ward off) · ar دَفَعَ (to ward off) · la prōpulsō (to ward off) · te వికర్షించు (physics: to force away) · ru отка́зываться приня́ть (to put off) · es repeler (physics: to force away) · bg отблъсквам (to drive away) · ru вызыва́ть отвраще́ние (to cause repulsion or dislike) · mi parepare (to drive away) · cs odpuzovat (physics: to force away) · de abstoßen (to cause repulsion or dislike) · ru ока́зывать сопротивле́ние (to ward off) · fi torjua (to drive away) · ru вызыва́ть неприя́знь (to cause repulsion or dislike) · la repellō (to ward off) · bg отхвърлям (to put off) · fr rebuter (to put off) · de zurückwerfen (to drive away) · fi karkottaa (to ward off) · ru отража́ть (to drive away) · mi pare (to drive away) · ru отверга́ть (to put off) · ca repel·lir (to ward off) · ca repel·lir (to cause repulsion or dislike) · fr repousser (physics: to force away) · ca rebutjar (to put off) · ru отталкивать (physics: to force away) · ru противостоя́ть (to ward off) · gu અપાકર્ષવું (physics: to force away) · de abstoßen (physics: to force away) · ar صَدَّ (to ward off) · fr repousser (to put off) · ru претить (to cause repulsion or dislike) · fi torjua (to put off) · bg отбивам (to ward off) · de abwehren (to ward off) · ru отклоня́ть (to put off) · fi torjua (to turn away) · mi kaikaro (to ward off) · mk о́дбие (to put off) · de abwehren (to drive away) · ru отбрасывать (to drive away) · bg отвращавам (to cause repulsion or dislike) · hu taszít (physics: to force away) · ga ruaig (to drive away) · eo mallogi (to cause repulsion or dislike) · fi etoa (to cause repulsion or dislike) · sv repellera (physics: to force away) · ca repel·lir (physics: to force away)