v.
Pronunciation: ri- ' pel
Function: verb
Inflected Form: re · pelled ; re · pel · ling
Etymology: Middle English repellen, from Middle French repeller, from Latin repellere, from re- + pellere to drive ― more at FELT
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 a : to drive back : REPULSE b : to fight against : RESIST
2 : TURN AWAY , REJECT < repelled the insinuation>
3 a : to drive away : DISCOURAGE <foul words and frowns must not repel a lover ― Shakespeare> b : to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding c : to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance
4 : to cause aversion in : DISGUST
intransitive verb : to cause aversion
– re · pel · ler noun