dispel

views updated May 23 2018

dis·pel / disˈpel/ • v. (-pelled, -pel·ling) [tr.] make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear: the brightness of the day did nothing to dispel Elaine's dejection. ∎  drive (something) away; scatter: sprinkle catnip tea to dispel beetles from garden plants.DERIVATIVES: dis·pel·ler n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

dispel

views updated Jun 27 2018

dispel XVII. — L. dispellere, f. DIS- 1 + pellere drive.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

dispel

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like