repel (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
early 15c., "to drive away, remove," from Old French repeller or directly from Latin repellere "to drive back," from re- "back" (see re-) + pellere "to drive, strike" (see pulse (n.1)). Meaning "to affect (a person) with distaste or aversion" is from 1817. Related: Repelled; repelling.
repellent (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
also repellant, 1640s, from Latin repellentem (nominative repelens), present participle of repellere (see repel). Originally of medicines (that reduced tumors); meaning "distasteful, disagreeable" first recorded 1797.
repulse (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
early 15c., from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "drive back, reject" (see repel). Related: Repulsed; repulsing.
repulse (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
1530s, from Latin repulsa "refusal, denial," noun use of fem. past participle of repellere (see repel).
repulsion (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
early 15c., "repudiation," from Late Latin repulsionem (nominative repulsio) "a repelling," noun of action from past participle stem of repellere (see repel). Meaning "action of forcing or driving back" is attested from 1540s. Sense of "strong dislike" is from 1751.
repulsive (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
early 15c., "able to repel," from Middle French repulsif (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin repulsivus, from repuls-, past participle stem of repellere (see repel). The sense of "causing disgust" is first recorded 1816. Related: Repulsively; repulsiveness.