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dis·pel

(dĭ-spĕl)

tr.v. dis·pelled, dis·pel·ling, dis·pels

To break up, drive away, or cause to disappear: The breeze dispelled the bad odor. Her cheerfulness dispelled the gloom. The report dispelled my doubts. See Synonyms at scatter.

[Middle English dispellen, from Latin dispellere : dis-, apart; see DIS- + pellere, to drive; see pel-⁵ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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