rebellious, a.
(rɪˈbɛljəs)
Also 5 rebellous(e.
[ad. L. type *rebellōsus or *rebelliōsus, f. rebellis rebel a., or rebellio rebellion. Cf. obs. F. rebelleux (Godef.).]
1. Insubordinate, defying lawful authority; belonging to a party of rebels. Const. against, to.
rebellious assembly, in Cowell (1607) and later Dicts., is defined in accordance with the act cited in quot. 1553.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 449 Men of Peloponense beynge rebellous ageyne men of Athenes. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4812 To ilk man he was rebellouse. 1535 Coverdale Esther xiii. 7 They which of olde (and now also) haue euer bene rebellious. 1553 Act 1 Mary ii. c. xii, An Acte againste unlawfull and rebellyous Assembles. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 3 A Pandect of profitable lawes against rebellious spirits. 1641 Thorndike Prim. Govt. Ch. Ep. Ded., It is a Child rebellious to the Fathers intentions. 1738 Wesley Hymn, ‘Father, how wide thy glory shines’ iv, When we view thy strange Design To save rebellious Worms. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc v. 61 My weak heart..Will beat, rebellious to its own resolves. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxiii. 13 Lost sheep that err rebellious to the lady Dindymene. 1888 M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. i, A horrid rebellious girl who has been expelled from a school. |
| absol. 1462 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 270 Alle rebellyous undyr he schal hem brynge. 1611 Bible Ps. lxvi. 7 Let not the rebellious exalt themselues. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 414 On th' other part Satan with his rebellious disappeerd. |
b. transf. of the hand, head, a weapon, etc.
| c 1580 Sidney Ps. xvii. vi, Thou by faithfull men wilt stand, And save them from rebellious hand. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. ii. 56 Point against Point, rebellious Arme 'gainst Arme. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 86 Revenge, that shall redound Upon his own rebellious head. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxii, Douglas ne'er Will level a rebellious spear. 1848 Lytton Harold ii. ii, When Mangor..let loose his rebellious tongue. |
c. transf. of intoxicating liquor.
rare—1.
| 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. iii. 49 In my youth I neuer did apply Hot and rebellious liquors in my bloud. |
2. Of actions, etc.: Characteristic of a rebel or of rebels; marked by rebellion.
| 1492 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 447/1 Joyed in rumour and rebellous novelries. 1544 Bale Sir J. Oldcastle 20 Vpon youre rebellyouse contumacye ye were both excommunicated. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 786 His hapless Foes,..to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers. a 1704 T. Brown On Dk. Ormond's Recov. Wks. 1730 I. 50 Cæsar to aid, and end rebellious strife. 1862 Longfellow Wayside Inn Prel. 113 The sword his grandsire bore In the rebellious days of yore. |
3. Of things: Offering resistance to manipulation or treatment; refractory.
a. Of diseases, sores, etc.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xv. 24 Very good against..rebellious old sores. 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme iii. liv. 557 They..vse the oyle for rebellious ringwormes. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 229 It [a tumour] is rebellious to all common Medicines. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 800 Few skin lesions have proved more rebellious [than lupus]. |
b. Of material things.
| 1594 Greene & Lodge Looking Gl. G.'s Wks. (Rtldg.) 120/1 If his mane grow out of order, and he have any rebellious hairs. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xvii, ‘Bring forward’, he said, ‘our key..and apply it to this rebellious gate’. 1882 Rep. to Ho. Repr. Prec. Met. U.S. 609 The new processes for the treatment of rebellious gold ores. |