The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Repel \Re**pel"\ (r?-p?l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repelled
   (-p?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repelling.] [L. repellere,
   repulsum; pref. re- re- + pellere to drive. See Pulse a
   beating, and cf. Repulse, Repeal.]
   1. To drive back; to force to return; to check the advance
      of; to repulse as, to repel an enemy or an assailant.
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            Hippomedon repelled the hostile tide. --Pope.
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            They repelled each other strongly, and yet attracted
            each other strongly.                  --Macaulay.
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   2. To resist or oppose effectually; as, to repel an assault,
      an encroachment, or an argument.
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            [He] gently repelled their entreaties. --Hawthorne.
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   Syn: Tu repulse; resist; oppose; reject; refuse.
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