re·bar·ba·tive \rēˈbärbəd.iv, -bȧb-\adjective Etymology: French rébarbatif, from Middle French rebarber to be repellent (from re- + barbe beard, from Latin barba) + -atif -ative — more at beard : serving or tending to repel or irritate : crabbed, repellent < the impression given by these letters is not so much rebarbative as infinitely pathetic — New Statesman & Nation >