Repel
/rɪˈpɛl/noun
To drive or force back or away.
Did you know?In ancient times, the act of repelling was often associated with warding off evil spirits or negative energies, reflecting a deep connection to protection rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to drive or push”
Latin
Latin
repellere
“to drive back, push away”
Old French
Old French
repeler
“to repel, drive back”
Middle English
Middle English
repellen
“to drive away, repel”
Modern English
English
repel
“to force back or away”