Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

repeal

/ɹəˈpiːl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.87 in modern English

Syllables: re-peal
IPA: /ɹəˈpiːl/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cancel, invalidate, annul.

Transitive verb

verb

To recall; to summon (a person) again; to bring (a person) back from exile or banishment.

verb

To suppress; to repel.

noun

An act or instance of repealing.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"to repeal a law"
"[…] I here divorce myself Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, Until that act of parliament be repeal’d Whereby my son is disinherited."
"1776, Samuel Johnson, letter to James Boswell, cited in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, p. 8, As manners make laws, manners likewise repeal them."
"It requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive, that altho’ laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet that they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. A law not repealed continues in force, not because it cannot be repealed, but because it is not repealed; and the non-repealing passes for consent."
"Labour says it will repeal the legislation if it wins the next General Election."
"There weepe, for till my Gaueston be repeald, Assure thy selfe thou comst not in my sight."

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman repeler, from Old French rapeler (“to call back, call in, call after, revoke”), from Latin repellō (“drive or thrust back”), from re- and pellō (“push or strike”). Doublet of repel.

Word Breakdown

Root: *pel- (beat)

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɹəˈpiːl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

repeals (present, singular) repealing (participle, present) repealed (participle, past) repealed (past) repeals (plural)

Derived Forms

nonrepealed repealability repealable repealer repealism repealist repealment rerepeal unrepeal unrepealed

Synonyms

annul cancel invalidate revoke veto rescind abrogate abrogation annulment

Rhymes With

feel real deal we'll steel appeal wheel meal ideal reveal steal seal

Questions

How do you pronounce repeal?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɹəˈpiːl/.
What does repeal mean?: To cancel, invalidate, annul.
Where does repeal come from?: From Anglo-Norman repeler, from Old French rapeler (“to call back, call in, call after, revoke”), from Latin repellō (“drive or thrust back”), from re- and pellō (“push or strike”). Doublet of repel.

How to pronounce repeal

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