rebel

n. [ F. rebelle. ] One who rebels. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Revolter; insurgent. -- Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to government. The former rises up against his rulers, the latter makes war upon them. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. i. ] Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whoso be rebel to my judgment. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rebelled p. pr. & vb. n. Rebelling. ] [ 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. ] 1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See Rebellion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The murmur and the churls' rebelling. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Josh. xxii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or insubordinate attitude; to revolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

How could my hand rebel against my heart?
How could your heart rebel against your reason? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A region infested by rebels; rebels, considered collectively; also, conduct or quality characteristic of rebels. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who rebels; a rebel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. rébellion, L. rebellio. See Rebel, v. i. 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. ] 1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistance to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection. [ 1913 Webster ]

No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed than men of desperate principles resort to it. Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Open resistance to, or defiance of, lawful authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Commission of rebellion (Eng. Law), a process of contempt issued on the nonappearance of a defendant, -- now abolished. Wharton. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Insurrection; sedition; revolt; mutiny; resistance; contumacy. See Insurrection. [ 1913 Webster ]