dispel
UK[dɪˈspɛl]US[dɪˈspɛl]
v
To make something, especially a feeling, belief, or idea, go away or end.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
pel
dis
apart, away
pel
drive
Etymology
The word 'dispel' is a direct borrowing from Latin dispellere, which is a compound of the prefix dis- (meaning "apart") and the verb pellere (meaning "to drive"). The literal sense of "to drive apart" or "to scatter" was used in classical Latin, often in physical contexts like dispersing a crowd or clouds. This concrete meaning evolved logically into the modern abstract sense of driving away intangible things such as doubts, fears, or illusions. The semantic journey reflects a metaphorical extension from the physical act of scattering objects to the mental act of eliminating ideas or emotions.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart, away) + pel (drive)
dis: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart," "asunder," "away," or having a negative or reversing force.
pel: Latin origin, from the root pellere, meaning "to drive, to push."
Examples
The bright morning sunlight helped to dispel the gloom of the previous night.
The manager called a meeting to dispel the rumors circulating in the office.
Scientific evidence is often needed to dispel common myths and misconceptions.