Repeal (r-pl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repealed (-pld); p. pr. & vb. n. Repealing.]
Etymology: [OF. repeler to call back, F. rappeler; pref. re- re- + OF. apeler, F. appeler, to call, L. appellare. See Appeal, and. cf. Repel.]
1. To recall; to summon again, as persons. [Obs.] The banished Bolingbroke repeals himself, And with uplifted arms is safe arrived. Shak.
2. To recall, as a deed, will, law, or statute; to revoke; to rescind or abrogate by authority, as by act of the legislature; as, to repeal a law.
3. To suppress; to repel. [Obs.] Whence Adam soon repealed The doubts that in his heart arose. Milton.
Syn. -- To abolish; revoke; rescind; recall; annul; abrogate; cancel; reverse. See Abolish.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Repeal, n.
1. Recall, as from exile. [Obs.] The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people Will be as rash in the repeal, as hassty To expel him thence. Shak.
2. Revocation; abrogation; as, the repeal of a statute; the repeal of a law or a usage.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for repeal; he lists it under abolish, cancel.
Where he writes about it:
There we use repeal, abrogate, nullify, etc.: repeal by the enacting body, nullify by revolutionary proceedings; a later statute abrogates, without formally repealing, any earlier law with which it conflicts. — from abolish