Definition: rebel

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

rebel
     adj 1: used by northerners of Confederate soldiers; "the rebel
            yell"
     2: participating in organized resistance to a constituted
        government; "the rebelling confederacy" [syn: rebel,
        rebelling, rebellious]
     n 1: (informal) `johnny' was applied as a nickname for
          Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the
          American Civil War; `grayback' derived from their gray
          Confederate uniforms [syn: Rebel, Reb, Johnny Reb,
           Johnny, grayback]
     2: a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the
        constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving
        conditions) [syn: insurgent, insurrectionist, freedom
        fighter]
     3: someone who exhibits great independence in thought and
        action [syn: maverick]
     v 1: take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance [syn:
           arise, rise, rise up]
     2: break with established customs [syn: renegade]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rebel \Reb"el\, a. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v.
   t.]
   Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt;
   rebellious; as, rebel troops.

         Whoso be rebel to my judgment.           --Chaucer.

         Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. --Milton.

Rebel \Reb"el\, n. [F. rebelle.]
   One who rebels.

   Syn: Revolter; insurgent.

   Usage: Rebel, Insurgent. Insurgent marks an early, and
          rebel a more advanced, stage of opposition to
          government. The former rises up against his rulers,
          the latter makes war upon them.

Rebel \Re*bel"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rebelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Rebelling.] [F. rebeller, fr. L. rebellare to make war
   again; pref. re- again + bellare to make war, fr. bellum war.
   See Bellicose, and cf. Revel to carouse.]
   1. To renounce, and resist by force, the authority of the
      ruler or government to which one owes obedience. See
      Rebellion.

            The murmur and the churl's rebelling. --Chaucer.

            Ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel
            this day against the Lord.            --Josh. xxii.
                                                  16.

   2. To be disobedient to authority; to assume a hostile or
      insubordinate attitude; to revolt.

            Hoe could my hand rebel against my heart? How could
            you heart rebel against your reason?  --Dryden.

REBEL, n.  A proponent of a new misrule who has failed to establish
it.