abnegation

See also: abnégation

English

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.

abnegation (countable and uncountable, plural abnegations)

A denial; a renunciation; denial of desire or self-interest. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- 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, Harold Bindloss, chapter 20, in The Dust of Conflict‎:
  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.”

→

denial; renunciation

“abnegation” in Lesley Brown, editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 6.

abnegation (plural abnegationes)

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