De‐ny″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Denied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Denying.] [OE. denien, denaien, OF. denier, deneer, F. dénier, fr. L. denegare; de- + negare to say no, deny. See Negation.] 1. To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; — opposed to affirm, allow, or admit.
☞ We deny what another says, or we deny the truth of an assertion, the force of it, or the assertion itself.
2. To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce. “If you deny to dance.” Shak.
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? Pope.
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. Bancroft.
Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved. Keble.
To deny one's self, to decline the gratification of appetites or desires; to practice self-denial.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross. Matt. xvi. 24.