Etymology

repel

re·pel
R1E1P3E1L1

Today it means: To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc. Full definition →

First used 15th c.Middle English repellen ← Old French *repeller ← Latin repellere
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromrepellere“to drive back”
  2. Old French · derived from*repeller
  3. Middle English · inherited fromrepellen
  4. English todayrepel

From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc.
  • from 15th c. To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.).
  • from 15th c. To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.).
  • from 15th c. To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
  • from 17th c. To force away by means of a repulsive force.
  • from 18th c. To cause repulsion or dislike in; to disgust.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.