from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Repel \Re**pel"\ (r?-p?l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Repelled}
(-p?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Repelling}.] [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.
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Hippomedon repelled the hostile tide. --Pope.
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They repelled each other strongly, and yet attracted
each other strongly. --Macaulay.
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2. To resist or oppose effectually; as, to repel an assault,
an encroachment, or an argument.
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[He] gently repelled their entreaties. --Hawthorne.
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Syn: Tu repulse; resist; oppose; reject; refuse.
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