deny Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb declare untrue; contradict
- He denied the allegations
- She denied that she had taken money
verb refuse to accept or believe
- He denied his fatal illness
verb refuse to grant, as of a petition or request
- The dean denied the students' request for more physics courses
- the prisoners were denied the right to exercise for more than 2 hours a day
verb refuse to let have
refuse.
- She denies me every pleasure
- he denies her her weekly allowance
verb deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure
abnegate.
- She denied herself wine and spirits
verb deny formally (an allegation of fact by the opposing party) in a legal suit
traverse.
verb refuse to recognize or acknowledge
- Peter denied Jesus

OE. denien, denaien, OF. denier, deneer, F. dénier, fr. L. denegare; de- + negare to say no, deny. See Negation.

imperfect & past participle Denied ; present participle & verbal noun Denying

To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; -- opposed to affirm, allow, or admit. ✍ We deny what another says, or we deny the truth of an assertion, the force of it, or the assertion itself.
To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce. Obs. "If you deny to dance." Shak.
To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request.
Who finds not Providence all good and wise, Alike in what it gives, and what denies? Pope.

To some men, it is more agreeable to deny a vicious inclination, than to gratify it. J. Edwards.
To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.
The falsehood of denying his opinion. Bancroft.

Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved. Keble.

Let him deny himself, and take up his cross. Matt. xvi. 24.

To answer in negative; to declare an assertion not to be true.
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. Gen. xviii. 15.