dispellavano

Dispellavano is the imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb dispellare. It corresponds to the third-person plural subject in the past, conveying a sense of ongoing or repeated action in the past, such as a process of driving away, banishing, or dispersing.

Etymology and meaning: the verb dispellare is built from the prefix dis- and the verb stem pellare, ultimately deriving from Latin pellere, “to drive.” In Italian, dispellare means to dispel, banish, or disperse something—such as fears, doubts, rumors, or crowds—or to dispel magical or visual effects in fantasy or literary contexts.

Usage and nuance: dispellavano is used to describe actions that were unfolding over time or were habitual in the past. It commonly appears in historical, reportage, or narrative passages as well as in fiction. The verb can govern a variety of direct objects (e.g., timori, superstizioni, incantesimi, la folla). In contemporary prose, more everyday synonyms like disperdere or dissipare may be preferred depending on the nuance, but dispellare retains a formal or stylistically elevated tone in many contexts.

Example sentences:

- Le autorità dispellavano la folla al termine del comizio.

- Nei racconti fantastici, i maghi dispellavano incantesimi ostili per liberare i protagonisti.

See also: dispellare in its other forms, and related verbs such as dispellere, disperdere, dissipare.