Deny /(?)/

De·ny

Deny

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Denied; p. pr. & vb. n. Denying

  1. To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; -- opposed to affirm, allow, or admit.
  2. To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce. [Obs.]
  3. To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request.
    Who finds not Providence all good and wise, Alike in what it gives, and what denies?
    To some men, it is more agreeable to deny a vicious inclination, than to gratify it.
    — J. Edwards.
  4. To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.
    The falsehood of denying his opinion.
    Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved.
    Let him deny himself, and take up his cross.
    — Matt. xvi. 24.

Phrases & Compounds
To deny one's self
to decline the gratification of appetites or desires; to practice self-denial.

Deny

v. i.
  1. To answer in negative; to declare an assertion not to be true.
    Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid.