Dis·pel v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispelled p. pr. & vb. n. Dispelling.] To drive away by scattering, or so to cause to vanish; to clear away; to banish; to dissipate; as, to dispel a cloud, vapors, cares, doubts, illusions.
[Satan] gently raised
their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. --Milton.
I saw myself the lambent easy light
Gild the brown horror, and dispel the night. --Dryden.
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dispel
v 1: force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric
meanings; "Drive away potential burglars"; "drive away
bad thoughts"; "dispel doubts"; "The supermarket had to
turn back many disappointed customers" [syn: chase away,
drive out, turn back, drive away, drive off, run
off]
2: to cause to separate and go in different directions; "She
waved her hand and scattered the crowds" [syn: disperse,
dissipate, break up, scatter]
[also: dispelling, dispelled]