Repellents

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Substances created to prevent pests and undesirable creatures from coming near
2. Formulations intended to keep insects and other bothersome entities at bay to minimize interactions
3. Materials designed to discourage insects and pests from approaching or settling nearby

Etymology: "Repellents" is the plural of "repellent," and the singular form is the older of the two in English, arriving from Latin "repellens," the present participle of "repellere," meaning "to drive back." The Latin verb combined "re-" (back, again) with "pellere" (to drive or push), so the core idea is pushing something away from you. The "-ent" ending is the same suffix found in many English adjectives and nouns descended from Latin present participles, such as "dependent" and "existent." That is why the word has long worked both as an adjective describing something that drives off or resists, and as a noun for a substance that does so. The plural form here refers to the chemical products sold to keep insects, animals and other pests away.

Synonyms: deterrents, insecticides, pesticides

Antonyms: attractants