Abnegatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Conveying a sense of rejection or denial toward something
2. Communicating refusal or disavowal of a belief or claim
3. Indicating denial or the act of renouncing or refusing something

Etymology: "Abnegatory" is an English adjective formed from "abnegate," a verb meaning to renounce or deny oneself something. That verb came into English in the 1600s, borrowed from the Latin "abnegare," which combined "ab-" (away, off) with "negare" (to deny, say no). So the root idea is of saying "no" and pushing something away. The "-ory" ending, from Latin "-orius" through Old French "-oire," turns a verb into an adjective meaning "serving to" or "having the character of." An abnegatory response is therefore one that works as a flat denial or refusal. The word is rare, and it is essentially a more formal, slightly archaic relative of "negatory," which carries the same sense of saying no.

Synonyms: self-denying, self-sacrificing, renouncing, self-abnegating, selfless

Antonyms: self-indulgent, self-serving, selfish, hedonistic, narcissistic