Etymology Borrowed from French révolter, from Italian rivoltare, itself either from ri- with the verb voltare, or possibly from a Vulgar Latin *revoltāre < *revolvitāre, for *revolūtāre, frequentative of Latin revolvō (“roll back”) (through its past participle revolūtus). Compare typologically Russian переворо́т (perevorót) (akin to верте́ть (vertétʹ).
1
To rebel, particularly against authority.
The farmers had to revolt against the government to get what they deserved.
Our diſcontented Counties doe reuoltc. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 18, column 1:
2
To repel greatly.
Your brother revolts me!
I shall be told, that this abominable medley is made rather to revolt young and ingenuous minds.1796–1797, Edmund Burke, “Letters on a Regicide Peace, Continued from Vol. VIII. Letter IV. To the Earl Fitzwilliam.”, in [Walker King], editor, The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, new edition, volume IX, London: […] [R. Gilbert] for C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], published 1826, →OCLC, page 118:
1 more example
1870, John Morley, Condorcet (published in the Fortnightly Review To derive delight from what inflicts pain on any sentient creature revolted his conscience and offended his reason.
3
To be disgusted, shocked, or grossly offended; hence, to feel nausea; used with at.
The stomach revolts at such food; his nature revolts at cruelty.
4
To cause to turn back; to roll or drive back; to put to flight.
The foring clouds into fad fhowres y molt; / So to her yold the flames, and did their force reuolt.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 567:
5
To turn away; to abandon or reject something; specifically, to turn away, or shrink, with abhorrence.
And ſtill revolt when truth would ſet them free.1673, John Milton, “[Sonnet] XII. On the Same [Tetrachordon].”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], →OCLC, page 57:
His clear intelligence revolted from the dominant sophisms of that time.1886, John Morley, The Life of Turgot:
6
Card games, Games to perform a revolution in Tycoon, reversing the card hierarchy
Etymology Borrowed from French révolter, from Italian rivoltare, itself either from ri- with the verb voltare, or possibly from a Vulgar Latin *revoltāre < *revolvitāre, for *revolūtāre, frequentative of Latin revolvō (“roll back”) (through its past participle revolūtus). Compare typologically Russian переворо́т (perevorót) (akin to верте́ть (vertétʹ).
1
An act of revolting.
— It's a revolt? — No, Sire, it's a revolution...
The first recorded use of “insurrection” in English, indeed, is in parliamentary papers describing the armed revolt led by Jack Cade in 1450, who marched on London to protest against the corruption of Henry VI’s government. […] Thinking more metaphorically, his American contemporary James Russell Lowell wrote: “It is not the insurrections of ignorance that are dangerous, but the revolts of intelligence.” Had he lived to the year 2021, he might have changed his mind.2021 January 13, Steven Poole, “'Insurrection': how an old word for an old thing was Trumped”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 20 Jan 2021: