dispelv.
/dɪˈspɛl/ 1. transitive. To drive away in different directions or in scattered order; to disperse by force, dissipate (e.g. clouds, darkness, doubts, fears, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > dispel (cloud, gloom, or immaterial things)
overdriveOE
discuss?c1400
digesta1513
profligate1542
depel?1548
foil1548
sperse1580
disparkle1601
redisperse1621
dispela1631
fray1635
dissipate1691
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1954) VII. 170 More clouds then they could..dispell and scatter.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 210 Lamps..enough to dispell the greatest darknesse.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 530 He..gently rais'd Their fainted courage, and dispel'd their fears. View more context for this quotation
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 63 His apprehensions were soon dispelled.
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. viii. 90 He dispelled the illusions of Lewis.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid i in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 80 Ills more dire ye have suffered; and these too Heaven will dispel.
2. intransitive (for reflexive). To become dissipated or scattered, as a cloud or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > move away in all directions (of things)
spreada1382
dissipe1597
dispel1643
dissipate1660
break1827
to spread off1850
1643 Kingdomes Weekly Intellig. No. 7. 55 [He] still hangs as a cloud over Plimmouth, but it dispells every day.
1799 T. Campbell Pleasures of Hope & Other Poems ii. 263 Melt, and dispel, ye spectre-doubts.
1840 Blackwood's Mag. 48 270 Conventions..in constant succession bubble up, form, and dispel.
Derivatives
diˈspelling adj. esp. in combination, as care-dispelling, that dispels care.
ΚΠ
1827 Spirit of Eng. Mag. 15 Dec. 220/1 What a bland and care-dispelling feeling!
diˈspellent n. (also dispellant) a dispelling agent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > eradication or extirpation > one who or that which eradicates or extirpates
extirperc1503
voiderc1528
rooter1560
disperser1580
depeller1597
eradicator1659
extirpator1706
dispeller1717
uprooter1828
dispellent1869
extirpationist1881
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [noun] > driving away > driving away in all directions > dispelling > that which
dispeller1717
scatterer1744
dispellent1869
dissipater1894
1869 Pall Mall Gaz. 18 Aug. 10 The change of scene..will often act as a good dispellant.
diˈspeller n. a person who or thing which dispels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > eradication or extirpation > one who or that which eradicates or extirpates
extirperc1503
voiderc1528
rooter1560
disperser1580
depeller1597
eradicator1659
extirpator1706
dispeller1717
uprooter1828
dispellent1869
extirpationist1881
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [noun] > driving away > driving away in all directions > dispelling > that which
dispeller1717
scatterer1744
dispellent1869
dissipater1894
1717 tr. A. F. Frézier Voy. South-Sea 77 It is an admirable dispeller of certain Tumors.
1836 F. Mahony Watergrasshill Carousal in Rel. Father Prout (1859) 78 A dispeller of sorrow.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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