REB'EL, noun [Latin rebellis, making war again.] 1. One who revolts from the government to which he owes allegiance, either by openly renouncing the authority of that government, or by taking arms and openly opposing it. A rebel differs from an enemy, as the latter is one who does not owe allegiance to the government which he attacks. Numbers 17:10. 2. One who willfully violates a law. 3. One who disobeys the king's proclamation; a contemner of the king's laws. 4. A villain who disobeys his lord. REB'EL, adjective Rebellious; acting in revolt. REBEL', verb intransitive [Latin rebello, to make war again; re and bello.] 1. To revolt; to renounce the authority of the laws and government to which one owes allegiance. Subjects may rebel by an open renunciation of the authority of the government, without taking arms; but ordinarily, rebellion is accompanied by resistance in arms. Ye have built you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord. Joshua 22:16. Isaiah 1:20. 2. To rise in violent opposition against lawful authority. How could my hand rebel against my heart? How could your heart rebel against your reason?
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI