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Origin and history of propel

propel(v.)

mid-15c., propellen, "to drive away, expel," from Latin propellere "push forward, drive forward, drive forth; move, impel," from pro "forward" (see pro-) + pellere "to push, drive" (from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive"). Meaning "to drive onward, cause to move forward" is from 1650s. Related: Propelled; propelling.

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to propel

propellant(n.)

"driving forward, propelling," the less-etymological, but more usual, modern spelling of propellent, 1640s, from propel + -ent. As a noun from 1814, "that which propels or drives forward;" by 1881 as "a firearm explosive;" by 1919 as "fuel for a rocket engine."

propeller(n.)

1780, "one who or that which that propels," agent noun from propel. In the mechanical sense, 1809, "device for moving vessels on or under the water;" of flying machines, 1842 in a broad, theoretical sense; in the specific modern sense, 1853.

  • propulsion
  • propulsive
  • *pel-
  • pro-
  • See All Related Words (6)
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More to explore

move
late 13c., meven, in various senses (see below), from Anglo-French mover, Old French movoir "to move, get moving, set out; set in motion; introduce" (Modern French mouvoir), from Latin movere "move, set in motion; remove; disturb" (past participle motus, frequentative motare), fr
prompt
mid-14c., prompten, "to incite to action, urge," from the adjective or from Latin promptus, past participle of promere "to bring forth," from pro "forward" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward") + emere "to take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute"). The meaning "coach (someon
electricity
question of its economical application to some purposes is still unsettled, but experiment has already proved that it will propel...
row
"propel (a vessel) with oars or paddles," Middle English rouen (mid-14c.), from Old English rowan (intrans.)...
throw
"to project, propel," c. 1300, from Old English þrawan "to twist, turn, writhe, curl," (past tense þreow, past participle...
send
as a messenger, on an errand); order or cause to go or pass (from one place to another);" also "send forth, emit; throw, propel...
put
From c. 1300 as "to hurl, cast, propel," especially "to throw with an upward and forward motion of the arm" (Will....
make
Old English macian "to give being to, give form or character to, bring into existence; construct, do, be the author of, produce; prepare, arrange, cause; behave, fare, transform," from West Germanic *makōjanan "to fashion, fit" (source also of Old Saxon makon, Old Frisian makia "
loft
"an upper chamber," c. 1300, an extended sense from late Old English loft "the sky; the sphere of the air," from Old Norse lopt (Scandinavian -pt- pronounced like -ft-) "air, sky," originally "upper story, loft, attic," from Proto-Germanic *luftuz "air, sky" (source also of Old E
hit
late Old English hyttan, hittan "come upon, meet with, fall in with, 'hit' upon," from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse hitta "to light upon, meet with," also "to hit, strike;" Swedish hitta "to find," Danish and Norwegian hitte "to hit, find," from Proto-Germanic *hitjan,

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Dictionary entries near propel
  • propagandist
  • propagandize
  • propagate
  • propagation
  • propane
  • propel
  • propellant
  • propellent
  • propeller
  • propensity
  • proper
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