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rebarbative

[ree-bahr-buh-tiv]
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adjective
  1. causing annoyance, irritation, or aversion; repellent.
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Origin of rebarbative

1890–95; < French, feminine of rébarbatif, derivative of rébarber to be unattractive, equivalent to ré- re- + barbe beard (< Latin barba) + -atif -ative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for rebarbative

rebarbative

adjective
  1. fearsome; forbidding
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Word Origin

C19: from French rébarbatif, from Old French rebarber to repel (an enemy), to withstand (him) face to face, from re- + barbe beard, from Latin barba
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rebarbative

adj.

"repellent, unattractive," 1885, from French rébarbatif (14c.), from barbe "beard," from Latin barba (see barb (n.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper