De*ny" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denying.] [OE. denien, denaien, OF. denier, deneer, F. d'enier, fr. L. denegare; de- + negare to say no, deny. See Negation.]
1.
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.
2.
To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce.
[Obs.] "If you
deny to dance."
Shak.
3.
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.
4.
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.
To deny one's self, to decline the gratification of appetites or desires; to practice self-denial.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross.
Matt. xvi. 24.
© Webster 1913.
De*ny", v. i.
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.
© Webster 1913.