| rebel | 1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion. "The murmur and the churl's rebelling." (Chaucer) "Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord." (Josh. Xxii. 16) 2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt. "Hoe could my hand rebel against my heart? How could you heart rebel against your reason?" (Dryden) Origin: F. Rebeller, fr. L. Rebellare to make war again; pref. Re- again + bellare to make war, fr. Bellum war. See Bellicose, and cf. Revel to carouse. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| rebellion | 1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistances to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organised uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection. "No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it." (Ames) 2. Open resistances to, or defiance of, lawful authority. Commission of rebellion, a process of contempt on the nonappearance of a defendant, non abolished. Synonym: Insurrection, sedition, revolt, mutiny, resistances, contumacy. See Insurrection. Origin: F. Rebellion, L. Rebellio. See Rebel, Among the Romans rebellion was originally a revolt or open resistance to their government by nations that had been subdued in war. It was a renewed war. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |