Revulsion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈvʌlʃən/

Definitions

1. A strong feeling of disgust or repulsion can arise from something unpleasant or offensive, prompting a rejection of the cause
2. The intense aversion or distaste for a person, situation, or idea reflects a deep-seated emotional reaction
3. Experiencing a powerful sense of loathing or repugnance towards an event or object can lead to an instinctual desire to avoid it

Etymology: The Latin root of "revulsion" is "revellere," meaning "to pull back" or "to tear away," built from "re-" (back) and "vellere" (to pull). The noun "revulsiō" meant a drawing away, and in medicine it came to describe the practice of drawing blood or fluid away from one part of the body to relieve another. This physical sense of pulling something away is still visible in the modern meaning. English received the word partly through Middle French "révulsion" and partly directly from Latin "revulsiō," so both routes contributed to its form. The medical sense of drawing something away is what made the word's path from physical action to emotion possible: the feeling of disgust seems to pull the self away from something repellent.

Synonyms: disgust, repulsion, aversion

Antonyms: attraction, liking