'REPEAL (O.F.' rapel, modern rappel, from rapeler, rappeler, revoke, re and appeler, appeal), .the abrogation, revocation or annulling of a law (see ABROGATION and STATUTE). The word is particularly used in English history of the movement led by Daniel O'Connell for the repeal of the act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland in 1830 and 1841-46, which in its later development became known as the Nationalist or Home Rule movement (see IRELAND, History).