renounce
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (4)renounced, renouncing
- give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations“The King abdicated when he married a divorcee”Synonyms: abdicateMore general vacate, resign
- leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily“She vacated the position when she got pregnant”“The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds”Synonyms: vacateresigngive upMore general leave office, quitMore specific abdicate
- turn away from; give up“I am foreswearing women forever”Synonyms: foreswearquitrelinquishMore general abandon, give upMore specific disclaim
- cast off“She renounced her husband”“The parents repudiated their son”Synonyms: disownrepudiateMore general rejectMore specific deny, refute, abjure, swallow, apostatize
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F. renoncer, L. renuntiare to bring back word, announce, revoke, retract, renounce; pref. re- re- + nuntiare to announce, fr. nuncius, a messenger. See Nuncio, and cf. Renunciation.
1. To declare against; to reject or decline formally; to refuse to own or acknowledge as belonging to one; to disclaim; as, to renounce a title to land or to a throne.
2. To cast off or reject deliberately; to disown; to dismiss; to forswear.
This world I do renounce, and in your sights Shake patiently my great affliction off.— William Shakespeare
3. Card games To disclaim having a card of (the suit led) by playing a card of another suit.
To renounce probate Law, to decline to act as the executor of a will. Mozley & W.
Synonyms: To cast off; disavow; disown; disclaim; deny; abjure; recant; abandon; forsake; quit; forego; resign; relinquish; give up; abdicate. — Renounce, Abjure, Recant. — To renounce is to make an affirmative declaration of abandonment. To abjure is to renounce with, or as with, the solemnity of an oath. To recant is to renounce or abjure some proposition previously affirmed and maintained.
From Thebes my birth I own;... since no disgrace Can force me to renounce the honor of my race.— John Dryden
Either to die the death, or to abjure Forever the society of man.— William Shakespeare
Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void.— John Milton
1. To make renunciation. obsolete
He of my sons who fails to make it good, By one rebellious act renounces to my blood.— John Dryden
2. Law To decline formally, as an executor or a person entitled to letters of administration, to take out probate or letters.
Dryden died without a will, and his widow having renounced, his son Charles administered on June 10.— William Dougal Christie
Card games Act of renouncing.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54