Re-pĕl'1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. REPELLED; p. pr. & vb. n. REPELLING.] [Lat. repellere, from re, back, and pellere, to drive; Sp. repeler, Pr. & Pg. repellir, It. repellere.]
Sense 1. To drive back; to force to return; to check the advance of; to repulse; as, to repel an enemy or an assailant.
Hippomedon repelled the hostile tide. Pope.
They repelled each other strongly, and yet attracted each other strongly. Macaulay.
Sense 2. To encounter or assault with effectual resistance, as an encroachment; to resist; to oppose; as, to repel an argument.
Synonyms—To repulse; resist; oppose; reject; refuse.