ot binding; as, to _deny_ a statement or a relationship; or to
refuse to grant as something requested; as, his mother could not _deny_
him what he desired. To _discard_ is to cast away as useless or
worthless; thus, one _discards_ a worn garment; a coquette _discards_ a
lover. _Revoke_ (L. _re_, back, and _voco_, call), etymologically the
exact equivalent of the English _recall_, is to take back something
given or granted; as, to _revoke_ a command, a will, or a grant;
_recall_ may be used in the exact sense of _revoke_, but is often
applied to persons, as _revoke_ is not; we _recall_ a messenger and
_revoke_ the order with which he was charged. _Abjure_ (L. _ab_, away,
and _juro_, swear) is etymologically the exact equivalent of the Saxon
_forswear_, signifying to put away formally and under oath, as an error,
heresy, or evil practise, or a condemned and detested person. A man
_abjures_ his religion, _recants_ his belief, _abjures_ or _renounces_
his allegiance, _repudiates_ another's claim, _renounces_ his own,
_retracts_ a false statement. A person may _deny_, _disavow_,
_disclaim_, _disown_ what has been truly or falsely imputed to him or
supposed to be his. He may _deny_ his signature, _disavow_ the act of
his agent, _disown_ his child; he may _repudiate_ a just claim or a base
suggestion. A native of the United States can not _abjure_ or _renounce_
allegiance to the Queen of England, but will promptly _deny_ or
_repudiate_ it. Compare ABANDON.

Antonyms:

acknowledge, assert, cherish, defend, maintain, proclaim, uphold,
advocate, avow, claim, hold, own, retain, vindicate.

* * * * *

REPENTANCE.

Synonyms:

compunction, contriteness, regret, self-condemnation,
contrition, penitence, remorse, sorrow.

_Regret_ is _sorrow_ for any painful or annoying matter. One is moved
with _penitence_ for wrong-doing. To speak of _regret_ for a fault of
our own marks it as slighter than one regarding which we should express
_penitence_. _Repentance_ is _sorrow_ for sin with _self-condemnation_,
and complete turning from the sin. _Penitence_ is transient, and may
involve no change of character or conduct. There may be _sorrow_ without
_repentance_, as for consequences only, but not _repentance_ without
_sorrow_. _Compunction_ is a momentary sting of conscience, in view
either of a past or of a contemplated act. _Contrition_ is a subduing
_sorrow