Middle English Dictionary Entry
repēlen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | repēlen v. Also repele, repelle, repeale; p.ppl. repeled, etc. & rapelled, (late) repeiled & (error) repeles. |
| Etymology | OF rapeler, AF repel(l)er. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To repeal (a statute, decree, etc.), revoke, rescind, annul; (b) to withdraw (a privilege, license, etc.); withdraw (a right from sb.) [quot.: c1390].
Associated quotations
a
- [ a1350 Langtoft Chron.(Jul A.5)2.278 : Mes maintenaunt apres cel fet repelait [vr. repelleit]. ]
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3749 : Þe kyng in parlament Hath þer-vppon ȝoue iugement So outterly it may nat be repellid [rime: asselid].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3776 : The Couenauntys..Imad of olde..shall not now of nwe be repelyd.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.294 : Syn ye..han..bothe oure hertes seled, How may ye suffre, allas! it be repeled [vr. repeles]?
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)65 : Be that same processe anulled and repelled [ID(1): repelle].
- (1444) RParl.5.117a : Please it youre wise discretions..yat the same Statute in that part be repealid.
- a1450 Body & S.(5) (Roy 18.A.10)496 : Now i se i am but lorn; Þere may no man þis doom repele.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)194/25 : God schal ȝeure þe dredful jugement þat schal be so stedefast.. þat neuermore ne schal be repeled ne wiþseid [Ayenb.: wyþcleped].
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.8 : Thys message he repeled vtterlye And made a uow it schulde not stonde so.
- (1461-83) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.68 : Eany sucche acte or ordynaunce..may be revoked and repeled.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.349 : The kyng made..In euery shire blanke charters to bee sealid, For cause his actes should not bee repeiled.
b
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)177 : Þe lyf þat is to ow so leof, He wol ȝou reue..Þis poyntes may no mon him repele [rime: hele].
- (1414) RParl.4.59a : Besechinge also to oure liege Lord that..this Commission mowe be repeled.
- (1429) RParl.4.360a : Wherfore like it ye Kyng our Soveraigne Lorde, yat yaire licences mowe be repelled.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)153 : Thanne be his fraunchise by the ballyves and be the corounneres and be the goode men of the toun repelyd.
- (1454) RParl.5.255a : Item, that eny auctorite or power to eny othir persone before made..bee..voied, rappelled, revoked, adnulled, and of no force nor effect.
2.
(a) To repudiate (one's behavior, disposition), renounce; disavow (what one has done); retract (a statement); (b) to return (sth.), give up.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 In worschupe (Vrn)70 : Hose luste with wymmen striue, I rede he..sone him schriue..And in worschip of Marie Such vn-Redines þat ȝe repele.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)206/11 : Þe lord repeled al þe good he had do hym and dide hym to penaunce in strong prisone.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)114 : Neuere wolde j repele thing that j hadde euele seid.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)649 : Yet may ye wel repeale your bysynesse, And to resoun some-what haue atendaunce.
b
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)38 : Thei haue had it oonliche to repele it at my lust.
3.
(a) To claim (sth.) again; ~ upon, reimpose (a cancelled debt) upon (sb.); (b) to call (sb.) back (to mercy).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)60/26 : Þo hym seide Jesus a take [read: tale] of a kyng þat repeled þe dette vpon his sergeaunt, for þat he ne hadde nouȝth done to hem als he hadde done to hym self.
b
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 2250)9954 : Synne[r]s wele repelled wer to mercy, þof þai diden amys.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.56 : Þe coniunccion ne uailleþ noȝt, so ase þe seisede mai repelen, ne þe venquissinge ne uaileþ noȝt bote ȝif hit were aioined þoru riȝt.
Note: Antedates word
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Pope Felix (GiL97) (Eg 876) 513/9 : He was displesed and chased Felix oute of his bysshopriche and repeled Lyberien by suche comenaunt only that he shulde be partener withe hym and withe that other that Felix hadde condempned.
Note: Editor: "repeled: 'called back' or 'reinstated'; the necessary sense is not recorded under MED repelen."
Note: New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Gregory (GiL45) (Eg 876) 198/70 : Thanne the bushop hadde drede and sent anone for to repele Gregorie by messengers.
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Gregory (GiL45) (Eg 876) 205/352 : Some sayn that Troian was repeled ayein to lyff and hadde grace for to deserue foryeuenesse, and so he hadde euerlasting ioye.
Note: Editor: "repel: the literal sesne, 'call back', is not recorded in MED."
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify sense 3.(b) 'to call (sb.) back (to mercy).'