Definition of expel

The origin of the word "expel" can be traced back to the mid-14th century in Middle English. At that time, the verb "expelen" meant "to push out" or "to throw out" and was derived from the Latin word "expendere," which had the same meaning. The Latin root "ex-" meant "out" or "from," and "pendere" meant "to weigh" or "to hang." This Latin word was often used in a metaphorical sense to mean "to drive out" or "to remove." In Middle English, the "-el" suffix was added to form a verb that conveyed the idea of forcing something out, just as the Latin root "pendere" had suggested. The "-en" ending was replaced with "-el" to make the pronunciation more consistent with other verbs in the language. Over time, the meaning of "expel" evolved to include driving out not just physical objects, but also people, such as students from a school or members from an organization. The definition also expanded to include the idea of making someone leave voluntarily, such as when withdrawing from a program or quitting a job. In its current usage, "expel" remains a strong verb that conveys a sense of force and finality, such as when removing undesirable elements from a community or getting rid of toxic substances from the body.