pel-, -pell, -pellent, -peal

(Latin: push, beat, strike, knock, drive)

Don't confuse this pel- unit with another pel- group meaning "mud, earth, clay".

compellingly (adverb), more compellingly, most compellingly
1. Descriptive of how interest, attention, or admiration is evoked in a powerfully irresistible way: Floyd just couldn't put down the compellingly gripping crime novel.
2. Referring to an inability to resist some overwhelming argument, pressure, or situation: Mr. Smart, Jim's teacher, told the story in a compellingly fascinating manner and drew the undivided attention of all of his students.
dispel (verb), dispels; dispelled; dispelling
1. To get rid of something in the mind that is quite bothering; to disperse: Chris managed to dispel any doubts about his capabilities to do the job.

Shirley made an official statement to her colleagues to dispel any rumors that she was going to retire.

2. To drive away or off by or as if by scattering: A strong wind dispelled the thick fog along the beach where Ingrid was living.
To get rid of one thing for another one.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

dispeller (s) (noun), dispellers (pl)
1. Something that causes a dispersal in all directions; dissipate; The seeds of the dandelion can be blown by the wind, which is the dispeller in this case, and the seeds are scattered all over the place!
2. A person or a situation that causes something to vanish or which alleviates: Dr. Small proved to be a dispeller of her fears and imaginary concerns.
expel (verb), expels; expelled, expelling
1. To force or to drive out: The military forces were able to expel the invaders.
2. To officially force someone to leave a place or an organization: The university will be expelling those students who refuse to attend their classes and to complete their assignments.
3. To push or to force something out: Jack, the patient, expelled or exhaled air from his lungs.
expeller (s) (noun), expellers (pl)
1. A screw press for pressing vegetable oil from seeds: In the encyclopaedia there was a photo of an expeller that was used to squeeze the oil from soybeans.
2. A person or something that drives out, drives away, or excludes: The principal, Mr. Straight, was the official expeller when certain students misbehaved badly or who constantly disobeyed the school rules, and he banned them from attending school until further notice.
impel (verb), impels; impelled; impelling
1. To incite or urge someone to action by the way of intrinsic motivation: While sleeping, Carol rose out of bed and started to walk as if she were impelled by a compulsion beyond her control!
2. To propel or drive something forward: Jim loved soccer and, whenever he had a chance, he impelled or kicked the ball as far as he could!
impeller (s) (noun), impellers (pl)
1. A person or a thing that presses urges forward in an intrinsic way: The fact that he was promised more pocket money, as an impeller, if he cleaned up his room every week, motivated Troy to do just that!
2. A rotating ge or implement that speeds up the fluid outward from the middle of revolution: An impeller is used in washing machines, in pumps, in water jets, and agitated tanks.
interpellate (verb), interpellates; interpellated; interpellating
To question formally: It became necessary to interpellate the mayor regarding the charges of corruption.
interpellation (s) (noun). interpellations (pl)
1. In politics, the formal calling of a government official to explain some policy or act: An interpellation is a parliamentary procedure which is followed by an assembly.
2. The case of interjecting or interposing a remark that causes a break in continuation: When Viola was talking about her car accident, an interpellation was created by a remark made by her friend which interrupted the flow of Viola's experience.
leptopellic (adjective), more leptopellic, most leptopellic
Regarding the condition of an unusually narrow pelvis; dolichopelvic: After her health check-up at Dr. Martin's office, he told her that she had a leptopellic condition, which showed an excessively long anteroposterior span.
peal (s) (noun), peals (pl)
1. A loud resonance: There was a peal of thunder that could be heard throughout the region.

A peal of clanging bells could be heard across the meadow.

Janine could hear the peal of bells coming from the church in the valley.
2. A loud, easily heard sound: Sean could hear the peal of laughter coming from the auditorium during the funny song and dance routine.

peal (verb), peals; pealed; pealling
1. To sound with a loud noise, toll, or ring: The friends lived close to the church in town and could hear the church bells peal every hour.
2. To utter or sound loudly: Valerie was so upset that she pealed forth loudly with uminaginable grief.
pelt (s) (noun), pelts (pl)
1. The skin of a dead animal with the fur or hair still on it: The hunter was in the process of cutting the dead lion's pelt off its body.
2. A stripped animal skin ready for tanning: Jerome added the pelt of the fox to the others that were going to be prepared for making leather from rawhides.
pelt (verb), pelts; pelted; pelting
1. To remove the skin from a deal animal: In the decumentary film, the hunter pelted the rabbit he had killed.
2. To bombard or assail someone with some kind of weapon or projectile: After the lecture, members of the audience pelted the speaker with many questions.
3. To throw or cast something again and again: The children pelted each other with snowballs after school was over.
4. To rain excessively: Wilber didn't want to go outside that afternoon because it was pelting heavily and constantly the whole time.
propel (verb), propels; propelled; propelling
1. To give impetus for a physical action; to cause to move forward or onward: Stelle pressed her foot on the gas pedal, or accelerator, in her car to propel or force it into action!.
2. To give someone a motive or an urge for action: When Judy viewed the beautiful stars in a very clear night sky, it propelled her into studying astronomy after she finished school.

Cross references of word families that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "push, shove, thrust": osmo-; puls-; trud-.