repeal 
Divers laws had been made, which, upon experience, 
were repealed, as being neither safe nor equal. 
H'inthrop, Hist. New England, I. 380. 
The land, once lean, . . . 
Exults to see its thistly curse repeal'd. 
Cowper, Task, vi. 768. 
A law for paying debts in lands or chattels was repealed 
within eight months of its enactment. 
Bancroft. Hist. Const., L 234. 
= Syn. 3. Annul, Rescind, etc. See abolish, and list under 
abrogate. 
repeal (re-pel'), n. [Early mod. E. repel, repell; 
< OF. rapel, F. rappel, a recall, appeal, < rap- 
peler, call back: see repeal, v.] If. Recall, as 
from exile. 
Her intercession chafed him so. 
When she for thy repeal was suppliant, 
That to close prison he commanded her. 
Shak., T. G. of V., iii. L 234. 
Begge not thy fathers free repeale to Court, 
And to those offices we have bestow'd. 
Heyutood, Royal King (Works, ed. Pearson, 1874, VI. 52). 
2. The act of repealing; revocation; abro- 
gation: as, the repeal of a statute Freedom 
Of repealt. See freedom. Repeal agitation, in British 
hist., a movement for the repeal of the legislative union 
between Great Britain and Ireland. Its leader was 
Daniel O'Connell, and its climax was reached in the mon- 
ster meetings in its favor in 1843. After the trial of O'Con- 
nell in 1G44, the agitation subsided. = Syn, 2 See abolish 
repealability (re-pe-la-bil'i-ti), n. [< repeala- 
ble + -ity (see -bility).'] The character of being 
repealable. 
repealable (re-pe'la-bl), a. [< OF. rapelalle, F. 
rappelable, repealable ; as repeal + -able.'] Ca- 
pable of being repealed ; revocable, especially 
by the power that enacted. 
5082 
Even that decision would have been repealable by a 
greater force. Art of Contentment. (Latham.) 
repealableness (re-pe'la-bl-nes), . Same as 
repealability. 
repealer (r-pe'ler), w. [< repeal + -cr*.] One 
who repeals ; one who desires repeal ; specifi- 
cally, an agitator for repeal of the Articles of 
Union between Great Britain and Ireland. 
In old days . . . [Separatists] would have been called 
repealers, and neither expression would to-day be repudi- 
ated by the Nationalist party in Ireland. 
Edinburgh Rev., CLXIV. 580. 
repealment (re-pel'ment), M. [< repeal + 
-ment.] If. A' calling" back; recall, as from 
banishment. 
Great is the comfort that a banished man takes at tid- 
ings of his repealement. 
Wittes' Commonwealth, p. 220. (Latham.) 
2. The act of abrogating or revoking; repeal. 
[Rare.] 
repeat (re-pet'), r. [Early mod. E. repete; < 
OF. repeter, F. repcter = Pr. Sp. Pg. repetir = 
It. repetcre, repeat, < L. repetere, attack again, 
seek again, resume, repeat, < re-, again, + pe- 
tere, attack, seek: see petition. Cf. appete, com- 
pete.] I. trans. 1. To do, make, or perform 
again. 
The thought or feeling a thousand times repeated be- 
comes his at last who utters it best. 
Lowett, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 326. 
2. To say again; iterate. 
He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. 
plied to the revolver, but is now rarely so used.] Repeat- 
ing instrument, a geodetical orother optical instrument 
upon which the measurement of the angle can be repeated, 
beginning at the point of the limb where the last measure- 
ment ended, so as to eliminate in great measure the errors 
of graduation. Repeating rifle. See repeating firearm, 
repeat (re-pet'), n. ['< repent, v.] 1. The act 
of repeating; repetition. [Rare.] 
Of all whose speech Achilles first renew'd 
The last part thus, . . . 
And so of this repeat enough. 
Chapman, IT. of Iliad, xvi. 57. 
2. That which is repeated ; specifically, in m u- 
sic, a passage performed a second time. 
They [the Greek poets] called such linking verse Epi- 
mone, . . . and we may terme him the Jxnieburden, fol- 
lowing the originall, or, if it please you, the long repeate. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 188. 
3. In musical notation, a sign that a passage or 
movement is to be twice performed. That which 
is to be repeated is usually included within the signs 
F" -fl "F >n 
ijj or J| J. The sign ft Is often added for greater 
distinctness. When the passage is not to be repeated en- 
tire, the terms da capo (D.C.) or dal segno (D. S.)areused, 
the former meaning 'from the beginning,' and the lat- 
ter 'from the sign (ft.),' and the end of the repeat is 
marked by fine or by a heavy bar with a bold, 3IE. A 
passage of only a measure or two which Is to be repeated 
is sometimes marked ' bit. I Double repeat*, in 
logic, the middle term. 
The double repeat (which is a woorde rehearsed in bothe 
proposicious) must not entre into the conclusion. 
H'ilmi. Rule of Reason. 
repeatedly (re-pe'ted-li), adr. With repeti- 
tion ; more than once ; again and again in- 
definitely. 
repeater (re-pe'ter), . 1. One who repeats; 
one who recites or rehearses. 
Repeaters of their popular oratorious vehemencies. 
Jer. Taylor (?X Artif. Handsomeness, p. 121. 
2. A watch that, on the compression of a spring, 
strikes the last hour. Some also indicate the 
quarters, or even the hours, quarters, and odd 
minutes. 3. In arith., an interminate decimal 
in which the same figure continually recurs. If 
this repetition goes on from the beginning, the decimal 
is called a pure repeater, as .3333, etc. ; but if any other fig- 
ure or figures intervene between the decimal point and 
the repeating figure, the decimal is called a mixed repeat- 
er, as .08333, etc. It is usual to indicate pure and mixed 
repeaters by placing a dot over the repeating figure : thus, 
the above examples are written .3, and .083. A repeater 
is also called a simple repetend. 
4. One who votes or attempts to vote more than 
once for one candidate at an election. [U. S.] 
When every town and city in the United States is voting 
on the same day, and "colonists" and repeaters are needed 
at home, and each State is reduced for its voters to its 
own citizens. The Motion VI. 282. 
5. A repeating firearm. ( ) A revolver, (b) A 
migulne-gun. 
6. Naut. : (a) A vessel, usually a frigate, ap- 
pointed to attend an admiral in a fleet, and to 
repeat any signal he makes, with which she im- 
mediately sails to the ship for which it is in- 
tended, or the whole length of the fleet when 
the signal is general. Also called repeating 
goodness of temper that he is welcome to every body. 
Steele, Spectator, No. 100. 
3. To say over; recite; rehearse. 
The third of the five vowels, if you repeat them 
Shak., L. L. L., v. 1. 57. 
He will think on her he loves. 
Fondly he'll repeat her name. 
Burns, Jockey 's ta'en the Parting Kiss. 
4f. To seek again. [Rare.] 
And, while through burning labyrinths they retire, 
With loathing eyes repeat what they would shun. 
Drydeii, Annus Mirabilis, st. 257. 
5. In Scots law, to restore ; refund ; repay, as 
money erroneously paid TO repeat one's self 
to say or do again what one has said or done before 
To repeat signals (naut.), to make the same signal 
which the senior officer has made, or to make a signal 
again. = Syn. 3. To relate. See recapitulate. 
II. intrans. To perform some distinctive but 
unspecifiedf unction again or a second time. Spe- 
cifically (a) To strike the hour again when desired : said of 
watches that strike the hours, and will strike again the hour 
last struck when a spring is pressed. See repeater, 2. (b) 
To commit or attempt to commit the fraud of voting more 
than once for one candidate at one election [U. S.] Re- 
peating action, in pianoforte-making, an action which 
admits of the repetition of the stroke of a hammer before 
its digital has been completely released. Repeating 
circle, decimal. See circle, decimal. Repeating fire- 
arm, a rifle or other firearm fitted with a magazine for car- 
tridges, with an automatic feed to the bairel, or in some 
other way prepared for the rapid discharge of a number 
of shots without reloading. [This name was formerly ap- 
be repeated. 7. In teleg., an instrument for 
automatically retransmitting a message at an 
intermediate point, when, by reason of length 
of circuit, defective insulation, etc., the origi- 
nal line current becomes too feeble to trans- 
mit intelligible signals through the whole cir- 
cuit. 8. In calico-printing, a figure which is 
repeated at equal intervals in a pattern, 
repeating (re-pe'ting), n. [Verbal n. oi-repeat, 
v7] The fraudulent voting, or attempt to vote, 
more than once for a single candidate in an 
election. [U. S.] 
Repeating and personation are not rare in dense popula- 
tions, where the agents and officials do not, and cannot 
know the voters' faces. 
Bryce, Amer. Commonwealth, II. 109. 
repedationt (rep-e-da'shon), n. \_<~LL.repedare, 
pp. repedatus, step back',' < L. re-, back, + pes 
(ped-), foot: see pedal, pedestrian.] A step- 
ping or going back ; return. 
_To take notice of the directions, stations, and repeda- 
ttons of those erratick lights, and from thence most con- 
vincingly to inform himself of that pleasant and true 
paradox of the annual motion of the earth. 
Dr. H. More, Antidote against Atheism, ii. 12. 
repel (re-pel'), v. ; pret. and pp. repelled, ppr. 
repelling. [Formerly also repell; < ME. rc/ifl- 
len, < OF. 'repeller = Sp. repeler = Pg. repellir 
= It. repellere, < L. repellere, pp. repulsns, drive 
back, < re-, back, + pellere, drive : see - -' 1 
repent 
Cf. compel, expel, impel, propel.'] I. trans. 1. 
To drive back; force to return; check the ad- 
vance of; repulse: as, to repel an assailant. 
Wyth this honde hast thou wryten many lettres by 
whiche thou rtpellyd moche folke fro doynir sacrefyse to 
our goddes. Holy Rood (E. E T. .S.), p. 159. 
Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover. 
Shale., Venus and Adonis, 1. 673. 
The Batavians . . . had enclos'd the Romans unawares 
behind, but that Agricola, with a strong Body of Horse 
which he reserv'd for such a purpose, rep II' d them back 
as 'ast- Milton, Hist. Eng., ii. 
But in the past a multitude of Rggressions have oc- 
curred . . . which needed to he repelled by the speediest 
means. Woolsey, Introd. to Inter. Law, 111. 
2. To encounter in any manner with effectual 
resistance; resist; oppose; reject: as, to repel 
an encroachment; to repel an argument. 3. 
To drive back or away : the opposite of attract. 
See repulsion.- pieas proponed and repelled. See 
propone. =Syn. 1 and 2. Decline, Reject, etc. isue refuse!), 
parry, ward off, defeat. 
II. intrans. 1. To act with force in opposi- 
tion to force impressed; antagonize. 2. In 
wed., to prevent such an afflux of fluids to any 
particular part as would render it tumid or 
swollen. 
repellence (re-pel'ens), n. [< repellen(t) + 
-ce. ] Same as repelleney. 
repellency (re-pel'en-si), n. [As repellence 
(see -cy).] The character of being repellent; 
the property of repelling; repulsion. 
repellent (re-pel'ent), a. and n. [= Sp. re- 
peliente = Pg. It" repellente, < L. repellen(t-)a, 
ppr. of repellere, drive back : see repel.] J. a. 
1. Having the effect of repelling, physically or 
morally ; having power to repel ; able or tend- 
ing to repel; repulsive. 
Why should the most repellent particles be the most at- 
tractive upon contact? Bp. Berkeley. Siris, 237. 
Its repellent plot deals with the love of a man who is 
more than half a monkey for a woman he saves from the 
penalty of murder. Athemeum, No. 2867, p. 474. 
There are some men whom destiny has endowed with 
the faculty of external neatness, whose clothes are repel- 
lent of dust and mud. Lowell. Fireside Travels, p. 47. 
2. Specifically, capable of repelling water; 
water-proof: as, repellent cloth or paper. 
II. n. 1. In med., an agent which is used to 
prevent or reduce a swelling. Astringents, ice, 
cold water, etc., are repellents. 2. A kind of 
water-proof cloth. 
repeller (re-pel 'er), n. One who or that which 
repels. 
repellesst (re-pel'les), a. [< repel + -less.] In- 
vincible ; that cannot be repelled. [Rare.] 
Two great Armados howrelie plow'd their way, 
And by assaulte made knowne repeUesKe might. 
Q. Markham, Sir H. Grinnile (Arber rep.), p. 71. 
repent 1 (re-pent'), v. [< ME. repenten, < OF. 
(and F.) repentir, refl., = Pr. repentir, repene- 
dere = Cat. repenedir = OSp. repentir (cf. mod. 
Sp. arrepentir = Pg. ar-repender, refl.) = It. ri- 
pentire, npentere, repent, < ML. as if "repeni- 
tere, repent (ppr. repeniten(t-)s, repentant), < 
L. re-, again, + peenitere (> OF. peutir), repent : 
see penitent."] I. intrans. 1. To feel pain, sor- 
row, or regret for something one has done or 
left undone. 
Yef the myght thel wolde repente with gode will of the 
stryfe that thei hadde a-gein Merlin, but to late the! were 
to repente. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 176. 
I never did repent for doing good, 
Nor shall not now. Shalt., M. of V., iii. 4. 10. 
Thus Grief still treads upon the Heels of Pleasure ; 
Marry'd in haste, we may repent at Leisure. 
Congreve, Old Batchelor, v. 8. 
2. Especially, to experience such sorrow for 
sin as produces amendment of life ; be grieved 
over one's past life, and seek forgiveness; be 
penitent. See repentance. 
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 
Luke xiii. S. 
Full seldom does a man repent, or use 
Both grace and will to pick the vicious quitch 
Of blood and custom wholly out of him, 
And make all clean, and plant himself afresh. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
3. To do penance. 4. To change the mind or 
course of conduct in consequence of regret or 
dissatisfaction with something that is past. 
Sir knyght, so fer haste thow gon that late it is to re- 
pente, for he is longinge to me, and ther-fore I com hym 
for to chalenge. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 328. 
Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, 
and they return. Ex. xiii. 17. 
5f. To express sorrow for something past. 
For dead, I surely doubt, thou inaist aread 
Henceforth for ever Florlmell to bee: 
That all the noble knights of Maydenhead, 
Which her ador'd, may sore repent with inee. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 47. 
