— repellence, repellency , n. — repeller , n. — repellingly , adv. — repellingness , n.
/ri pel"/ , v. , repelled, repelling .
v.t.
1. to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.).
2. to thrust back or away.
3. to resist effectively (an attack, onslaught, etc.).
4. to keep off or out; fail to mix with: Water and oil repel each other.
5. to resist the absorption or passage of (water or other liquid): This coat repels rain.
6. to refuse to have to do with; resist involvement in: to repel temptation.
7. to refuse to accept or admit; reject: to repel a suggestion.
8. to discourage the advances of (a person): He repelled me with his harshness.
9. to cause distaste or aversion in: Their untidy appearance repelled us.
10. to push back or away by a force, as one body acting upon another (opposed to attract ): The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another.
v.i.
11. to act with a force that drives or keeps away something.
12. to cause distaste or aversion.
[ 1350-1400; ME repellen repellere to drive back, equiv. to re- RE- + pellere to drive, push; see REPULSE ]
Syn. 1. repulse, parry, ward off. 3. withstand, oppose, rebuff. 7. decline, rebuff.
Ant. 1. attract.