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Apart from literay uses such as »a rebel yell«, probably better understood as »rebellious«, a rebel is someone who is »against« or »in revolt«, as etymology seems to indicate. The capitalized noun is a part of American History, but rebellion can be individualistic, collective and especially extended to all behaviors defying authority. In fact, one could consider that any form of authority generates an opposite form of rebellion. Authority, here, includes law and control of any kind. Legitimacy comes into play on both sides, but individual rebellion is often a state of mind, objecting to anything which involves obedience. In some societies, if not all, the simple act of thinking is a rebellious activity, often characterized by opponents as anger, repugnance or »hard to manage«. A maverick is a rebel, as is an individual for a given collectivity or community.
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