rebel
//ˈɹɛb.əl//
Forms
- Plural
- rebels
- present (v1)
- rebel
- past (v2)
- rebelled
- past participle (v3)
- rebelled
- present participle
- rebelling
- 3rd person singular
- rebels
Definitions
1.A person who resists an established authority, often violently.
- A group of rebels defied the general's orders and split off from the main army.
- My little sister is such a rebel - coming home late, piercing her ears, and refusing to do any of her chores.
2.A Confederate soldier; of the American Civil War.
1.To resist or become defiant toward an authority.
- "Tedd's feeling a bit rebellious." "I'm not rebelling! I'm self actualizing! By rebelling."
2.To forcefully subvert the law of the land in an attempt to replace it with another form of government.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3743
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English rebel, rebell
From Old French rebelle
From Latin rebellis (“waging war again; insurgent”)
From rebellō (“to wage war again, fight back”)
From re- (“again, back”) + bellō (“to wage war”).