disavow

Disavow — Dis a*vow , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Disavowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Disavowing}.] [F. d[ e]savouer; pref. d[ e]s (L. dis ) + avouer to avow. See {Avow}, and cf. {Disavouch}.] 1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

disavow — I verb abnegate, back down, back out, call back, declare not to be true, decline, deny, deny absolutely, deny connection with, deny emphatically, deny entirely, deny peremptorily, deny responsibility for, deny wholly, diffiteri, disaffirm,… …   Law dictionary

disavow — (v.) late 14c., from O.Fr. desavouer (13c.), from des opposite of (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + avouer (see AVOW (Cf. avow)). Related: Disavowed; disavowing …   Etymology dictionary

disavow — *disclaim, repudiate, disown, disallow Analogous words: *deny, gainsay, traverse: *disapprove, deprecate: reject, refuse (see DECLINE) Antonyms: avow Contrasted words: *maintain, assert, justify: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

disavow — [v] reject abjure, contradict, deny, disacknowledge, disallow, disclaim, disown, drop out, forswear, gainsay, go back on word*, impugn, negate, negative, refuse, renege, renig, repudiate, wash hands of*, weasel out of*, welsh, worm out of*;… …   New thesaurus

disavow — ► VERB ▪ deny any responsibility or support for. DERIVATIVES disavowal noun …   English terms dictionary

disavow — [dis΄ə vou′] vt. [ME disavouen < OFr desavoer: see DIS & AVOW] to deny any knowledge or approval of, or responsibility for; disclaim; disown disavowal n …   English World dictionary

disavow — UK [ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ] / US verb [transitive] Word forms disavow : present tense I/you/we/they disavow he/she/it disavows present participle disavowing past tense disavowed past participle disavowed formal to say firmly that you have no connection with… …   English dictionary

disavow — [[t]dɪ̱səva͟ʊ[/t]] disavows, disavowing, disavowed VERB If you disavow something, you say that you are not connected with it or responsible for it. [FORMAL] [V n] Dr. Samuels immediately disavowed the newspaper story. Syn: disown, repudiate …   English dictionary

disavow — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English desavowen, from Anglo French desavouer, from des dis + avouer to avow Date: 14th century 1. to deny responsibility for ; repudiate 2. to refuse to acknowledge or accept ; discla …   New Collegiate Dictionary

disavow — disavowedly, adv. disavower, n. /dis euh vow /, v.t. to disclaim knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate: He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him. [1350 1400; ME disavouen, desavouen < AF, OF… …   Universalium