To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy. Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. Milton.
To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject; to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.
The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of being repelled or driven back. By fate repelled, and with repulses tired. Denham. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts in the body. Shak.
Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.
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