Revulsions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A strong feeling of disgust or repulsion towards something; a sudden and intense reaction that causes a withdrawal; a deep emotional or physical aversion that prompts rejection or avoidance of a person or situation
2. An overwhelming sense of distaste that drives one to recoil from an experience; a quick and powerful response resulting in an urge to move away; a profound dislike that motivates an individual to reject or flee from what is deemed offensive
3. A fierce reaction eliciting a feeling of horror or loathing in response to circumstances; an abrupt and forceful emotional response leading to avoidance; an intense sense of disapproval that influences one's choices and actions

Etymology: "Revulsions" is simply the plural of "revulsion," so the history belongs to the singular. The noun comes from Latin "revulsio," a pulling back or away, built from "revellere," meaning to pull or tear away, with "re-" meaning back and "vellere," to pull. The Latin root shows up in English through "revulsion" in medical contexts. Surgeons and physicians long used "revulsion" for treatments that drew disease or fluid away from one part of the body toward another, such as blistering or purging to relieve an inflamed area. That physical sense of being drawn away from a place is the thread that connects to the emotional meaning. The word's movement from a bodily process to a feeling of sudden, strong recoil reflects that same idea of being pulled away.

Synonyms: repulsions, disgusts, abominations