Revellere

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A term referring to the act of tearing away or pulling back something firmly
2. Describing the process of forcibly removing or dislodging an object or substance from its place
3. Characterizing the action of uprooting or displacing something that is securely anchored

Etymology: Latin "revellere" combines "re-," meaning "back" or "away," with "vellere," "to pull or pluck," so its core sense is pulling something back or tearing it loose. Its most striking English descendant is "revulsion," from the related Latin noun "revulsio," a drawing back. Early physicians used the English word for drawing fluid away from an inflamed part of the body by applying a counter-irritant elsewhere, a sense that long predates its emotional meaning of strong disgust. Despite its appearance, English "revel," meaning to make merry, does not come from this verb. It comes from Old French "reveler," which meant to rebel or to make merry, and traces back to Latin "rebellare," "to rebel."

Synonyms: tear, rip, pull, pluck, extract

Antonyms: attach, fix, connect, insert, fasten