abnegation

First attested before 1398. From Middle English abnegacioun, borrowed from Late Latin abnegātiō, from abnegō (“refuse, deny”), from ab (“off”) + negō (“deny; refuse, say no”). Compare French abnégation.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/, /ˌæbnəˈɡeɪʃən/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

abnegation (countable and uncountable, plural abnegations)

1. A denial; a renunciation; denial of desire or self-interest. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]^[1]

   Synonyms: repudiation, self-denial, denial, renunciation

   • 1558, John Knox, Letter to the Queen Dowager:

     With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may retain the friendship of the court.

   • 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 20, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:

     Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one, while in the case of monk and crusader there must have been a sustaining purpose, and possibly a great abnegation, a leaving of lands and possessions.”

abnegation (plural abnegationes)

1. abnegation