rebel English · revision 7942

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la rebellis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹɛb.əl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|rebelle|t=stubborn, rebellious]] and directly Latin [[m|la|rebellis|t=insurgent, rebellious]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from rebellāre, to wage war again, revolt,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from re-, again or against, and bellāre, to wage war, from bellum, war (earlier duellum; see [[duel]], [[bellicose]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) It is a doublet of [[revel]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Refusing obedience to the rightful ruler, rebellious (adjective): 1297 in the OED, about 1300 in Etymonline, before 1300 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that Latin rebellis first referred to someone making a fresh declaration of war after being defeated.^(Cresswell 2021) In Middle English rebel was common as a predicative adjective, but since the 1600s it has been used chiefly before a noun, as in ''a rebel army''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The noun, one who resists authority, is from the mid-14th century, at first of rebellion against God,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and an obstinate person from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A supporter of the American cause in the War of Independence is by 1775, and of the South in the Civil War from April 1861;^(Etymonline) the ''rebel yell'' is attested from 1862.^(Etymonline) ''Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955), starring James Dean, gave a phrase for someone dissatisfied with society in general.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – rebellious (adjective).^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – a rebel (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1775 – an American patriot.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1861 – a Confederate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1955 – rebel without a cause.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who resists or fights against a [[government]] or other authority.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who rejects accepted conventions of behaviour.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To resist or rise up against a government or authority, especially by force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To defy convention.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To feel or show strong dislike.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Rebellious, or belonging to rebels: ''a rebel army''.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rebellike]]

+ * [[nonrebel]]

+ * [[reb]]

+ * [[rebeldom]]

+ * [[Johnny Reb]]

+ * [[rebel yell]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rebellion]]

+ * [[rebellious]]

+ * [[revel]]

+ * [[duel]]

+ * [[bellicose]]

+ * [[belligerent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The noun and adjective are stressed on the first syllable, the verb on the second.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}