rebellion
UK[rɪˈbeljən]US[rɪˈbeljən]
n
an attempt by some of the people in a country to change their government, using violence
n
opposition to authority; a refusal to accept the way things are
Morpheme Breakdown
re
bell
ion
re
again
bell
war
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
the word rebellion originates from the latin verb 'rebellare', meaning 'to wage war again', which itself is built from the prefix 're-' (again) and the noun 'bellum' (war). this etymology directly captures the core concept of a renewed or repeated conflict against established authority. the term entered english via old french 'rebellion' in the 14th century, initially describing armed resistance against a ruler or government. over time, its meaning broadened to encompass any organized, defiant opposition to control or convention, while retaining the fundamental sense of a 'war' being fought anew against a prevailing power.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + bell (war) + ion (noun suffix)
re- (latin prefix, meaning 'again'), -bell- (latin root from 'bellum', meaning 'war'), -ion (latin suffix, forming nouns denoting action or condition)
Examples
the government brutally crushed the peasant rebellion.
her actions were a quiet rebellion against the strict social rules of her time.
the rebellion in the province has lasted for over a decade.