Rebel
/ˈrɛb.əl/noun
A person who resists or rises against authority, control, or established rule.
Did you know?The word comes through Old French from Latin *rebellare*, literally “to wage war again,” built from *re-* “again” + *bellum* “war,” so rebellion was originally framed as a renewed state of war.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷelH-
“to fight, strike, or make war”
Latin
Latin
bellum
“war”
Latin
Latin
rebellare
“to wage war again; to revolt”
Old French
Old French
rebelle
“rebel, insurgent”
Middle English
English
rebel
“a person who resists authority; also, to revolt”
Explore more surprising origins