denego

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdeː.nɛ.ɡoː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.ne.ɡo]^[1]

Forms

dēnegō (present infinitive dēnegāre, perfect active dēnegāvī, supine dēnegātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- “thoroughly” and negō “to deny”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of refusing, and Plautus also uses it of denying that what was given was given.^[2][4][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to deny a fact or charge, as Plautus' datum dēnegant quod datum est and Tacitus' charges denied, a sense Lewis and Short call very rare.^[2][4][5] Far more often, from Plautus, it meant to refuse a request or favour.^[2][4] Döderlein explains that negāre denies on objective grounds, while īnfitiārī denies from a wish to conceal.^[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to deny, refuse, reject.^[8] It survives in Italian dinegare and French dénier, and Old French denoiir gave English deny in the early 14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of refusing and denying.^[2][5][6]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of denying charges.^[4][6]
• early 14th century – English deny is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To deny (a fact).^[2]
2. To refuse (a request).^[2]

Related words

• negō
• English deny
• English denial

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes negō, to deny on objective grounds, from īnfitior, to deny in order to conceal.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson