repeal

present singular third person repeals · participle present repealing · participle past repealed · past repealed

1. transitiveTo cancel, invalidate, annul.

   to repeal a law

   4 more examples

   […] I here divorce myself Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, Until that act of parliament be repeal’d Whereby my son is disinherited.

   c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   1776, Samuel Johnson, letter to James Boswell, cited in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, p. 8, As manners make laws, manners likewise repeal them.

   It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that altho’ laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet that they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. A law not repealed continues in force, not because it cannot be repealed, but because it is not repealed; and the non-repealing passes for consent.

   1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution, London: […] J. S. Jordan, […], →OCLC, page 15

   Labour says it will repeal the legislation if it wins the next General Election.

   2024 February 7, Mel Holley, “Network News: War of words between Prime Minister and union”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 14

2. To recall; to summon (a person) again; to bring (a person) back from exile or banishment.

   The banish’d Bolingbroke repeals himself, And with uplifted arms is safe arrived […]

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene 2]

   1 more example

   There weepe, for till my Gaueston be repeald, Assure thy selfe thou comst not in my sight.

   1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page)

3. To suppress; to repel.

   Whence Adam soon repeal’d The doubts that in his heart arose.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 59-60

plural repeals

1. countableuncountableAn act or instance of repealing.

   Wednesday June 02, 2021, Has the Northern Ireland Protocol undermined the United Kingdom? When a newer Act of Parliament is incompatible with earlier law, it usually takes precedence, under the doctrine of “implied repeal”.