dispellere

Dispellere is an Italian transitive verb meaning to drive away or disperse something, physically or figuratively. It is commonly used to denote removing doubts, fears, rumors, or myths, as well as to dissolving fog, clouds, or other impediments. The sense can range from the literal act of scattering a substance or crowd to the figurative act of clarifying or dispelling misunderstandings.

Etymology and usage notes: dispellere derives from Latin dispellere, formed from dis- “apart” and pellere “to drive.” In Italian it is conjugated as a regular -ere/-ellere verb, with forms such as dispello (io), dispelli (tu), dispelle (egli/ella), dispelliamo, dispellete, dispellono; the past participle is dispelluto and is used with auxiliary avere in compound tenses (ho dispelluto i dubbi). The verb is typically transitive and takes a direct object: dispello i dubbi, dispelliamo le paure, dispellere le voci.

Common contexts: dispelling doubts with evidence or argument, dispelling fears through reassurance, dispelling rumors by counter-information, and dispelling fog or smoke by physical action or natural means. In rhetoric and science writing, dispellere is used to indicate clearing up confusion or misinformation.

Synonyms and related terms: dissipare, dissipare l’ignoranza, chiarire, allontanare. The nuance of dispellere emphasizes an active removal or driving away, rather than mere disappearance. See also dissipazione, dissipativo in related discussions of removing uncertainty or obstruction.