renege
English
WOTD – 21 October 2006
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin renegō, from negō (“I deny”). Possibly influenced by renegotiate. See also renegade.
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈn(e)ɪɡ/, /ɹɪˈniːɡ/, /ɹiːˈnɛɡ/, /ɹiːˈn(e)ɪɡ/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈneɪɡ/, /ɹɪˈniːɡ/
,Audio (US) (file) Audio (US) (file)
Verb
renege (third-person singular simple present reneges, present participle reneging, simple past and past participle reneged)
- (intransitive) To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
- (intransitive) In a card game, to break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
- (transitive, archaic) To deny; to renounce
- c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals):: Act I, Scene i:
- Nay, but this dotage of our generall
Ore-flowes the meaſure: thoſe his goodly eyes,
That o're the files and muſters of the Warre,
Have glow'd like plated Mars:
now bend, now turne
The Office and Devotion of their view
Vpon a Tawny front. His captaines heart,
Which in the ſcuffles of great fights hath burſt
The Buckles on his breaſt, reneages all temper,
And is become the bellowes and the Fan
To coole a Gypſies Luſt.
- Nay, but this dotage of our generall
- Sylvester
- All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued.
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Translations
break a promise or commitment
card games: fail to follow suit when capable
deny, renounce
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References
- “renege” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
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