renier

to disown

verb ruh-nyeh-EH Rare

Origin: From re- + nier ('to deny'), from Latin negare.

Also means

to renounce

Usage Note

Renier means to repudiate or disavow — a person (renier ses enfants — to disown one's children), a belief (renier sa foi — to renounce one's faith), or one's past. It is stronger than nier (to deny a fact) and implies a definitive moral rejection. Related noun: le reniement.

Examples

"Il a renié toutes ses convictions passées."

Natural Translation

He renounced all his past convictions.

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