Denys

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To refuse to grant or acknowledge something; to reject the truth of a claim or accusation; to prevent someone from having or doing something that is desired or needed
2. To assert that something is not true or valid; to withhold permission or access to something; to contradict or negate a statement or belief
3. To express a refusal regarding a statement or request; to oppose the acceptance of an idea or fact; to bar someone from receiving something sought after

Etymology: The verb "deny" comes from Old French "denier," which in turn comes from Latin "denegare," meaning "to say no" or "to refuse." The Latin word is built from "de-," a negating or reversing prefix, and "negare," "to say no." So at its root, denying something is simply refusing it, saying no to it. English took the word in the 14th century, and for a long time it kept that refusing sense even in contexts unrelated to truth. Someone could deny a request, deny entry, or deny a person what they wanted, and the modern meaning of rejecting a claim as false is one of its more specific later applications. The shift from refusing a demand to refuting a statement is what gives the verb its present sense.

Synonyms: refuses, rejects, declines, disavows, contradicts

Antonyms: accepts, confirms, approves, admits, acknowledges