The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Repulse \Re*pulse"\, n. [L. repulsa, fr. repellere, repulsum.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of
      being repelled or driven back.
      [1913 Webster]

            By fate repelled, and with repulses tired. --Denham.
      [1913 Webster]

            He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts in
            the body.                             --Shak.
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   2. Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Repulse \Re*pulse"\ (r?-p?ls"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repulsed
   (-p?lst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repulsing.] [L. repulsus, p. p.
   of repellere. See Repel.]
   1. To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an
      assault; to repulse the enemy.
      [1913 Webster]

            Complete to have discovered and repulsed
            Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject;
      to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

repulse
    n 1: an instance of driving away or warding off [syn: rebuff,
         snub, repulse]
    v 1: force or drive back; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the
         onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" [syn: repel, repulse,
         fight off, rebuff, drive back]
    2: be repellent to; cause aversion in [syn: repel, repulse]
       [ant: appeal, attract]
    3: cause to move back by force or influence; "repel the enemy";
       "push back the urge to smoke"; "beat back the invaders" [syn:
       repel, drive, repulse, force back, push back, beat
       back] [ant: attract, draw, draw in, pull, pull in]