REPEL Re**pel" (r-pl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repelled (-pld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repelling.] Etym: [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.
REPEL
Re*pel", v. i.
Defn: To act with force in opposition to force impressed; to exercise repulsion.
REPELLENCE; REPELLENCY
Re*pel"lence, Re*pel"len*cy, n.
Defn: The principle of repulsion; the quality or capacity of repelling; repulsion.
REPELLENT
Re*pel"lent (-lent), a. Etym: [L. repellens, -entis, p. pr. ]
Defn: Driving back; able or tending to repel.