repeal
UK[rɪˈpiːl]US[rɪˈpiːl]
v
to officially make a law no longer valid
n
the action of repealing a law or act
Morpheme Breakdown
re
peal
re
again
peal
to call
Etymology
the word 'repeal' entered english in the late 14th century from the anglo-french 'repeler', meaning "to call back". it is built upon the latin prefix 're-' ("back") and the verb 'appellare' ("to address, call upon"). the core logic is one of calling back or summoning back a decision. originally linked to the concept of revoking a judgment through an appeal, its meaning narrowed in legal english to signify the act of calling back or annulling a statute, thereby making it void. thus, the modern sense of revoking a law retains the original notion of a formal "calling back" of authority.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + peal (to call)
re- (latin prefix meaning "again" or "back"), peal (from middle english 'apelen', from old french 'apeler', meaning "to call" or "to appeal", ultimately from latin 'appellare')
Examples
the government plans to repeal the outdated tax regulation.
the repeal of the prohibition act was a significant historical event.
activists campaigned for years to repeal the controversial law.