repulsen.
/rᵻˈpʌls/, U.S. /rəˈpəls/, /riˈpəls/ 1. † b. In phrases to take (also have, or give) (the or a) repulse. Also with person as indirect object. Obsolete.
a. Refusal (of a request, suit, etc.); denial, rejection, rebuff; an instance of this.In quot. c1475 translating De Repulsis, a chapter heading (7. 5) in Valerius Maximus's Facta et Dicta Memorabilia, and referring to electoral defeats.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [noun]
warningc1000
refusea1393
refusing?a1400
naying1430
denyingc1450
refusal1474
repulsec1475
denegation1489
denial1528
deny?1529
refute1535
nay-saya1598
recusancy1597
detrectation1623
vetation1623
renuence1654
detraction1660
recusance1700
nayword1817
turn-down1902
c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 93 (MED) Valere rehersith in the vij boke whiche is called repulses [Fr. des repulses]..that the Romayns..from yer to yer..chaunged the moste parte of their officers.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 655 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 315 Þat I..haf repulse nov fra þi clerte.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. vi. 152 Þocht þe said porsena desirit þe tarquinis to be restorit, he knewe na thing bettir þan repulss of sic desiris.
1592 T. Nashe Strange Newes 43 Many followers, whose dutifull seruices must not bee disgrac'd with a bitter repulse in anie suite.
1601 F. Godwin Catal. Bishops of Eng. 5 He gaue not ouer with one repulse, but..procured a second conference.
1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. vii. 165 This was the second repulse, yet the Popes were not so easily shaken off.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 457. ¶3 Applications for Places, with their respective Successes or Repulses.
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. v, in Hist. Wks. (1813) I. 376 Upon this repulse, Mary's commissioners withdrew.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. ix. viii. 157 The rigour of your repulse alarmed me.
1839 R. M. Bird Adventures Robin Day I. xvii. 129 I was so enraged and mortified at this insulting repulse, that my first impulse was to lay my staff over the man's pate for his impertinence.
1853 C. Brontë Villette III. xxxix. 215 I went on, gaining courage on finding that I met attention rather than repulse.
1930 W. C. Williams Coll. Poems (1986) I. 327 I'll keep after you, your Repulse of me is no more Than a rebuff to the weather.
1963 H. Nethercot Last Four Lives Annie Besant vii. 283 Never before had it been driven home so starkly as in the single year from her triumph at the Congress in Calcutta to her repulse at the Congress in Delhi.
2001 E. Tattersall tr. Ovid in R. Jacobs Beginner's Guide Crit. Reading 478 Yet still her love holds fast, despite her repulse, and even grows along with her grief.
ΚΠ
1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War iii. f. lcccvii In suche manner that it be not sayde, that wee haue hadde the repulse of youe.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxviij Then might they also be in the more hope to giue the repulse to the Turke, with all his violence.
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 431 Pavlvs Aemilivs making sute for his second Consulship, was rejected and tooke repulse [Fr. en fut deboutté et refuzé].
1611 T. Coryate Crudities sig. F I went to the Dominican Monastery, and made suit to see it, but I had the repulse.
1644 J. Bulwer Chirologia 54 Shaking his head, [he] gave him the repulse.
1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. iv. viii, in Wks. 96 Her Husband's Brother had given her the Repulse.
1713 J. Edwards Theologia Reformata II. ii. 249 Let us give a Repulse to the Temptation, by considering what Sin will cost us.
1755 D. Swift Ess. Swift p. xiii She makes Use of the Mediation of Friends: These have the Repulse too, his Lordship remaining inexorable, without any Inclination to Mercy.
1797 G. Walker Cinthelia IV. ix. 230 If I was to fall in love with you, and, in truth, I'm half tempted, I should not take any repulse.
2. † b. An act or mode of repelling an injury. Obsolete. rare.
a. The act of repelling an assailant or hostile force; the fact of being driven back in a military engagement or assault. Also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > [noun] > fact of being driven back
repulse1548
society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > [noun] > repelling attack
repulsionc1460
repulse1548
1548 N. Bodrugan Epitome Title to Souereigntie Scotl. sig. b.viii Eder attended vpon Cassibelane kyng of Britons, for the repulse of Iulius Cæsar.
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. v. 190 Thei pursewed the repulse and committed great slaughter.
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 38/2 in Chron. I If the enimies were put to the repulse, they would easly escape ye danger with swiftnesse of foot.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 25 He notwithstanding the former repulse, the next yeere..laid hard siege againe to Ptolomais.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 600 What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse Repeated. View more context for this quotation
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 268 As the Repulse the Citizens gave us, was contrary to his Order..the Citizens cou'd obtain nothing.
1788 W. Richardson Ess. on Falstaff 41 He..pushes his attack as far as possible; suffers sudden repulse: but with great versatility and address retires to his former fastness.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 48 Repulse, with plumes from conquest torn, Led the ten thousand..Through many an hostile Anarchy!
1879 H. Phillips Addit. Notes upon Coins 3 A grand silver medal commemorates the repulse of the Turks before the City of Zenta.
1915 M. Gyte Diary 28 Aug. (1999) 61 The Russians keep falling back and we had a repulse in the Dardanelles a few days ago.
1960 P. M. Angle & E. S. Miers Tragic Years 1860–65 I. xviii. 436 Gen. Lee assumed his station on the hill..and..calmly watched the repulse of the repeated Federal efforts against the heights on which he stood.
a1985 P. White With the Jocks (2003) 139 His task was to try to penetrate towards Klosterhof under cover of darkness to secure what information he could of the enemy following on the repulse of the carrier attack.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > warding off harm
repulse1590
parry1655
parrying1672
fend-off1830
1590 W. Segar (title) The booke of honor and armes. Wherein is discoursed the causes of quarrell, and the nature of iniuries, with their repulses.
1590 W. Segar Bk. Honor & Armes i. 14 Hee vnto whom the Lie is giuen for a repulse of iniurie ought to be the Challenger.
3. † b. A check in growth. Obsolete. rare.
a. The act of forcing or driving back; the fact of being forced back. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [noun] > driving away > repelling
repulsionc1460
repulsing1490
repulse1578
repelling1611
staving1633
repellance1798
beating off1803
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 24 By their meanes, eche sodaine..stroake of the brest hath an easie repulse, in their yeldyng from it.
1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden x. 29 That saues a second wound, and a second repulse of sap.
1647 W. Eldred Gunners Glasse 103 This by meanes of the force of the powder and the repulse of the shot, causeth the recoyle of the Peece when it is discharged.
1710 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum II. (at cited word) It is one of the laws of Nature..that Repulse or Reaction is always equal to Impulse or Action.
1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 145 And, in the Repulse, think what a most powerful Suction that Repulse will create.
1900 S. Phillips Herod iii. 110 Every hour dispatch New messengers of rising domes and halls..Or some repulse of the invading sea!
ΚΠ
1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 79 Stocks removed have so great a wound and repulse by removing only, that they cannot well beare another so soone after.
1656 J. Sparrow tr. J. Böhme Aurora viii. 138 And then the heat above the earth presseth upon the stalk, and so the bitter quality is then kindled by the Heat, and it receiveth a repulse from the Heat.
Derivatives
reˈpulseless adj. rare that cannot be repulsed.
ΚΠ
1841 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (octavo ed.) II. Repulsless, that can not be repelled.
1916 F. Wobber Ballads of Wine Mad Town 82 Their hollow eyes draw the Stygian flies, That swarm, a repulseless host.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
repulsev.
/rᵻˈpʌls/, U.S. /rəˈpəls/, /riˈpəls/ 1. † c. transitive. To repel or ward off (an injurious action). Obsolete.
a. transitive. Chiefly Science. To drive back or away, esp. (in later use) by the action of an electric or magnetic field (= repel v. 8a).In quot. ?a1425: to hold back.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > repel > something impinging or advancing
repercuss?a1425
repulse?a1425
reverberatec1487
rebut1490
repel?1529
rebuff1697
wash1697
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 64 Be it [sc. a wound] bounde..And þus þe materie is repulsed [?c1425 Paris smyten aȝen; L. repellitur] & þe veyne constreyned.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. x. f. 148v Yet neyther that the waters shulde..bee in such sorte repulsed and dryuen into the mayne sea.
1590 W. Clever Flower of Phisicke 129 Both the bloud and breath were inwardly repulsed.
1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. III. 200 Hot and drie exhalations..being there repulsed backe by the beames of the stars into the cloudes.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. iii. 157 Being repulsed by the ambient Ayr, they recoyl again, and return in a Vortical Motion.
1701 G. London & H. Wise J. de La Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 3) I. p. xxiii Walls being compact and close built, have a strong Power to repulse and beat back the Force of violent Winds.
1777 H. H. Brackenridge Death Gen. Montgomery iii. i. 23 Spring repulses the rude wintry year.
1812 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 102 31 The tendrils..then receded from the glass and appear to be strongly repulsed by it.
1846 Mirror 14 Mar. 171/1 Dr. Tauschon ascertained that the chair in which she sits is first attracted, and next repulsed.
1896 Amer. Math. Monthly 3 244 There is a triangle whose sides repulse a center of force within the triangle with an intensity that varies inversely as the distance.
1939 Marvel Sci. Stories Feb. 59/1 The force-field is a billion miles in diameter... It acts to repulse or disintegrate all matter that approaches.
1999 Nature 6 May 21/1 The ability of certain pieces of rock to attract or repulse each other was discovered about 25 centuries ago.
b. transitive. To drive or beat back (an assailant or assault); to repel by force of arms. Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold [verb (transitive)] > repel
defendc1330
rebukec1380
rebut?a1425
rebatea1475
repel?a1475
repulse?a1475
rechasec1475
to set aside1522
push?1571
shoulder1581
to beat back1593
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > repel
recoil?c1225
to turn againc1330
to put awayc1350
rebukec1380
to put abacka1382
to put againa1382
again-puta1400
rebut?a1425
repeal?a1425
retroylc1425
rebatea1475
repel?a1475
repulse?a1475
to put backa1500
refel1548
revert1575
rembar1588
to beat back1593
rebeat1595
reject1603
repress1623
rambarrea1630
stave1631
refringe1692
slap-back1931
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 99 (MED) Canutus segede London, whiche, repulsede [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. putte abak; L. repulsus] from the cite, fauȝhte ageyne Edmund.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. ix. B iv To come hand to hand for to repulse or shoue forth with sperys.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. vi. 147 Porsena, repulsit of his first assalt, set him be prudent counsell to sege þe ciete.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xxxiiiiv The Easterlynges had muche a do to withstande and repulse theym oute of their gates.
1585 James in J. L. Motley Hist. United Netherlands (1860) I. v. 223 The enemy pursued very hotly; the Englishmen stood to repulse, and are put most to the sword.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 192 If wee had beene repulsed with any blow giuen vs,..all the Irish..would haue turned their swords against vs.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 114 Thy faithful Dogs..who for the Folds relief,..Repulse the prouling Wolf. View more context for this quotation
1776 S. Neville Diary 7 June (1950) x. 245 The Provincials have been repulsed a second time from Quebec with great loss.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. l. 244 His valour withstood and repulsed the superior numbers of the Christians.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. xii. ii. 623 Even then he was more than once repulsed before the city fell into his hands.
1865 Reader 4 Mar. 246/1 These sorties..were made with vigour, and not repulsed quite so easily as he would have us believe.
1914 M. Gyte Diary 8 Aug. (1999) 26 According to this morning's paper the Belgians repulsed the Germans.
1971 ‘A. Burgess’ Inn of Sixth Happiness xiii. 147 He had been an officer of the Nineteenth Route Army which, with bitter gallantry, had so bloodily repulsed them.
2004 M. Oke Times of our Lives 252 Russians repulse the Nazi summer offensive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > ward off harm
withhold13..
defendc1330
to bear offc1380
withstand1398
shielda1400
repela1450
to keep off1548
repulse1560
warda1586
fence1589
shelter1621
ward1759
fend-off1830
to fend back1877
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries vii. f. ccxlv v They knew it to be their dewtie..to repulse al violence & iniurie from the people of theyre dominions.
1590 W. Segar Bk. Honor & Armes i. 4 Whosoeuer being offered iniurious speach, shall say to the offerer therof Thou liest,..doth therby repulse the iniurie, and force the Iniurer to challenge.
1606 L. Bryskett Disc. Ciuill Life 82 It is lawfull for a man to repulse an iniury, and to defend himselfe.
1612 W. Shute tr. T. de Fougasses Gen. Hist. Venice ii. 341 That they should not doubt but that they would relieue them with money, ships, and whatsoeuer should be necessarie to repulse such an iniurie.
1721 G. Jacob Treat. Laws i. 116 A Defence ought to be unblameable, not to take Revenge, but to Repulse the Injury.
1757 A. Butler Lives Saints III. 408 St. Dominick..made use of no other arms to repulse injuries than those of meekness and patience.
1873 Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours 14 427/1 Hatred does not stop only in repulsing an injury, and in chastising him who has done it.
2. † b. transitive. With infinitive. Obsolete. rare.† c. transitive. To rebuke, reprove. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To reject, refuse, or rebuff (a person, or his or her advances, comments, etc.). †Also with from.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > reject
awarpc1000
forwerpeOE
warpc1000
nillOE
warnc1300
reprovec1350
to put abacka1382
to throw awaya1382
repugnc1384
to put awaya1387
waivec1386
forshoota1400
disavowc1400
defyc1405
disprovec1430
repelc1443
flemea1450
to put backa1500
reject?1504
refutea1513
repulse1533
refel1548
repudiate1548
disallowa1555
project?1567
expel1575
discard1578
overrule1578
forsay1579
check1601
decard1605
dismiss1608
reprobate1609
devow1610
retorta1616
disclaimc1626
noforsootha1644
respuate1657
reluctate1668
negative1778
no-ball1862
basket1867
to set one's foot down1873
not to have any (of it, that, this)1895
to put down1944
eighty-six1959
neg1987
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > repel > with harsh words, treatment, or denial
repulse1533
repel1593
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xiv. 182 Becaus his petitiouns war repulsit afore þe senate, he said in þis wise.
1577 S. Patrick tr. I. Gentillet Disc. Wel Governing (1602) 165 These embassadours seeing themselves repulsed from their demaund, returned to Capua.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Hamlet (1623) ii. ii. 146 She tooke the Fruites of my Aduice, And he repulsed. A short Tale to make, Fell into a Sadnesse.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 910 Eve Not so repulst..at his feet Fell humble. View more context for this quotation
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. xii. 183 Mr. Thornhill..was going to embrace his uncle, which the other repulsed with an air of disdain.
1795 E. Fenwick Secresy III. xxvi. 194 You turn from me with an averted eye. You repulse my caresses!
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 89 Being repulsed By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought Until I overturn'd him.
1894 J. T. Fowler in St. Adamnan Vita S. Columbae Introd. 26 They were repulsed with laughter.
1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop xviii. 219 She held no animus against Jimmy for repulsing her.
1945 W. S. Churchill Victory 26 I repulse those calumnies..that Britain..is a selfish, power-greedy..nation.
1997 P. Carey Jack Maggs (1998) xviii. 64 He repulsed Mrs Halfstair's questions about the mysteries of Mr Oates's experiments.
ΚΠ
1590 W. Segar Bk. Honor & Armes iv. 57 A Gentleman that is knowne a Spie for the Enemie..may be repulsed to fight with euerie other Gentlemen of good fame and reputation.
1630 W. Vaughan Newlanders Cure i. 56 Why were Lepers..debarred from the Temple, insomuch that their King so diseased, was repulsed to enter?
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)]
threac897
threapc897
begripea1000
threata1000
castea1200
chaste?c1225
takec1275
blame1297
chastya1300
sniba1300
withnima1315
undernima1325
rebukec1330
snuba1340
withtakea1340
reprovec1350
chastisea1375
arate1377
challenge1377
undertake1377
reprehenda1382
repreync1390
runta1398
snapea1400
underfoc1400
to call to account1434
to put downc1440
snebc1440
uptakec1440
correptc1449
reformc1450
reprise?c1450
to tell (a person) his (also her, etc.) own1450
control1451
redarguec1475
berisp1481
to hit (cross) one over (of, on) the thumbs1522
checkc1530
admonish1541
nip1548
twig?1550
impreve1552
lesson1555
to take down1562
to haul (a person) over the coals1565
increpate1570
touch1570
school1573
to gather up1577
task1580
redarguate?1590
expostulate1592
tutor1599
sauce1601
snip1601
sneap1611
to take in tax1635
to sharp up1647
round1653
threapen1671
reprimand1681
to take to task1682
document1690
chapter1693
repulse1746
twink1747
to speak to ——1753
haul1795
to pull up1799
carpet1840
rig1841
to talk to1860
to take (a person) to the woodshed1882
rawhide1895
to tell off1897
to tell (someone) where he or she gets off1900
to get on ——1904
to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908
strafe1915
tick1915
woodshed1935
to slap (a person) down1938
sort1941
bind1942
bottle1946
mat1948
ream1950
zap1961
elder1967
1746 in W. Thompson Royal Navy-men's Advocate (1757) 24 The O——s of the Flesh Branch..frequently repulsed their Men for refusing to..salt what was not fit for Service.
1799 W. Godwin St. Leon II. xi. 288 The voices that repulsed and humbled him, will ring in his ear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being exclusive > exclude [verb (transitive)]
exclude1382
to face (a person) out ofc1530
repulse1548
seclude1581
excommune1650
to peg out1672
to include out1934
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. xviii. 76 Lorde..how often shal I pardon my brother..and after what numbre of faultes shall he be repulsed from pardone?
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) Ded. 5 Dredour ande schame beand repulsit fra my melancolius cogitations.
1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 26 Then the children only..are repulsed from the inheritance, and then it goeth to them of the kinred which are nearer in degree.
a1674 Arts of Empire (1692) xxi. 79 Slaves and Masterless-Men were repulsed from Arms, as Persons Infamous.
1822 Ld. Byron Heaven & Earth i. iii, in Liberal 1 197 My pangs can be but brief; but thine would be Eternal, if repulsed from Heaven for me.
1880 Times 15 Apr. 6/2 The various Gnostic schools were more and more rudely repulsed from the bosom of the general Church.
4. transitive. To affect with repulsion; to cause (a person) to feel intense disgust and aversion (chiefly in passive). Cf. repulsive adj. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > feeling against or a settled dislike > impulse of aversion > turn away from or regard with aversion or reject [verb (transitive)] > repel
resist1609
repulse1816
to put off1909
to turn off1951
off-put1970
1816 [see repulsing adj. and n. at Derivatives].
1845 G. A. Lundie Missionary Life Samoa ix. 52 Many things [in Australia] shocked and repulsed his feelings.
1902 W. Blaydes tr. A. Daudet Nabob ii. 42 The visitor, who had been at first repulsed by the vulgar aspect of this parvenu, felt himself filled with sympathy for him.
1955 F. O'Connor Let. 21 Aug. in Habit of Being (1980) 96 Orwell..was repulsed by the way the lower classes smelled.
2004 ‘J. Jameson’ & N. Strauss How to make Love like Porn Star iv. i. 311 Even now, when I look back at the pictures, I'm repulsed by how skinny I was.
Derivatives
reˈpulsed adj. repelled; (also occasionally) †conveying a repulse (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [adjective] > repelling > repelled (of things)
repercussed?1553
repelled1599
reverberated1615
repulsed1889
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 93 The governour..was nocht content heirof and gaif nothing againe bot ane repullsit ansuer.
1615 W. Vallans Hon. Prentice 15 The repulsed King left not so his vnlawfull sute for all her deniall.
1714 J. Ozell tr. Molière Amorous Quarrel in tr. Molière Wks. I. 132 Besides, Valerio has of late shew'd too much Tranquility for a repulsed Lover.
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Jan. 3/3 In the repulsed attack the Guards lost about that proportion in a very few minutes.
1962 B. Gargi Theatre in India 44 The repulsed wave of Hindu art now flowed back and lapped at the strong citadel of the austere Muslim rulers.
2004 M. B. Ballard Vicksburg ii. 350 Lincoln did not yet know of the repulsed assaults at Vicksburg.
reˈpulsing adj. and n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [adjective] > repelling
repulsing1490
repulsive?1574
expulsive1618
propulsive1648
repellent1654
repelling1710
repulsory1727
repellant1780
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [noun] > driving away > repelling
repulsionc1460
repulsing1490
repulse1578
repelling1611
staving1633
repellance1798
beating off1803
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvii. 102 The ryuages & portes..be to them repulsyng, contrare & rebel, euer more.
1563 A. Golding tr. L. Bruni Hist. Warres Imperialles & Gothes Reader Ded. sig. a.iiv Thys worke..entreateth of the repulsyng of the Gothes out of Italy.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. xxvii. 154 And a third time I would have taken her repulsing hand.
1807 Parl. Hist. Eng. I. 1251/1 The repulsing of such imminent and evident danger.
1816 Royal Mil. Chron. June 212 What could be done with such companions, who did not redeem by any graces of form the repulsing colour of their skins.
1915 Times 29 Sept. 7/2 The repulsing of the enemy across the line.
2007 V. Smith Clean i. 13 The welcoming smile is as universal as the repulsing frown.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1475
v.?a1425