repulse en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ɹəˈpɐls/ (New-Zealand)
- /ɹɪˈpʌls/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation, Scotland)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ɹɪˈpɐls/ (Australia)
- rĭ-pŭls′
- /ɾɪˈpəls/ (India)
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English repulsen, a learned borrowing from Latin repulsus, from repellō. For spelling, as in pulse, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To repel or drive back.
If we fail to repulse the enemy within the gates--unemployment, poverty, disorganized agriculture and the like--from whence may we expect the united strength and clear purpose to repulse any outside force?
1939 December 5, J. W. Studebaker, Democracy Shall Not Be Plowed Under, page 9:to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy
-
(transitive) To reject or rebuff.
to repulse a suitor
At the end of a week, she could bear the suspense no longer, and so went humbly to her old home and sought forgiveness. She was not repulsed, but her reception was cold; and this hurt her almost as badly.
1850, T. S. Arthur, “Happy on a Little”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 89:
-
(transitive) To cause revulsion in; to repel.
I find your conduct reprehensible, disgusting, and it repulses me, the way a mongoose repulses a snake.
The smell of rotting food repulsed me.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| repulsing | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| repulses | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| repulsed | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| repulsed | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
repulser · chemorepulse · repulsor
Relateds
Translations (36)
mi whakarikarika (to cause revulsion) · ru дава́ть отпо́р (to repel or drive back) · la repellō (to repel or drive back) · bg отбивам (to repel or drive back) · ru отбива́ть (to repel or drive back) · la repellō (to reject or rebuff) · la prōturbō (to repel or drive back) · fi inhottaa (to cause revulsion) · ru отказа́ть (to reject or rebuff) · mi taiari (to repel or drive back) · bg отблъсквам (to repel or drive back) · ru отка́зывать (to reject or rebuff) · mi whakahouhou (to cause revulsion) · ru отрази́ть (to repel or drive back) · mi whakarihariha (to cause revulsion) · ru отве́ргнуть (to reject or rebuff) · fi torjua (to repel or drive back) · bg не приемам (to reject or rebuff) · fi karkottaa (to repel or drive back) · mi taieri (to repel or drive back) · grc ἐκκρούω (to repel or drive back) · ga ruaig (to repel or drive back) · mi whakahoe (to reject or rebuff) · mi whakapeka (to reject or rebuff) · bg отхвърлям (to reject or rebuff) · ru отверга́ть (to reject or rebuff) · ru отби́ть (to repel or drive back) · ru отта́лкивать (to cause revulsion) · es repulsar (to cause revulsion) · ru дать отпо́р (to repel or drive back) · ru оттолкну́ть (to cause revulsion) · ru отража́ть (to repel or drive back) · fi torjua (to reject or rebuff) · mi whakaanuanu (to cause revulsion) · mi pūkanekane (to cause revulsion) · mi whakahiaruaki (to cause revulsion)