repulsion (n.)

early 15c., repulsioun, "driving away, repelling, repudiation," especially "divorce" (writ of repulsion), from Old French repulsion and directly from Late Latin repulsionem (nominative repulsio) "a repelling," noun of action from past-participle stem of repellere "to drive back" (see repel).

Meaning "action of forcing or driving back" is attested from 1540s. Sense of "strong dislike, repellent feeling" is from 1751.