Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Repulse \Re*pulse"\, n. [L. repulsa, fr. repellere, repulsum.]
   1. The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of
      being repelled or driven back.

            By fate repelled, and with repulses tired. --Denham.

            He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts in
            the body.                             --Shak.

   2. Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.

Repulse \Re*pulse"\ (r?-p?ls"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Repulsed}
   (-p?lst"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Repulsing}.] [L. repulsus, p. p.
   of repellere. See {Repel}.]
   1. To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an
      assault; to repulse the enemy.

            Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever
            wiles of foe or seeming friend.       --Milton.

   2. To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject;
      to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.

Source : WordNet®

repulse
     n : an instance of driving away or warding off [syn: {rebuff}, {snub}]
     v 1: force or drive back; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the
          onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" [syn: {repel}, {fight
          off}, {rebuff}, {drive back}]
     2: be repellent to; cause aversion in [syn: {repel}] [ant: {attract}]
     3: cause to move back by force or influence; "repel the enemy";
        "push back the urge to smoke"; "beat back the invaders"
        [syn: {repel}, {drive}, {force back}, {push back}, {beat
        back}] [ant: {attract}]