Deny

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DENIED (de-nīd'); p. pr. & vb. n. DENYING.] [O. Eng. denay, q. v.; Fr. déni-er, from Lat. denegare, from de and negare, to say no, to deny, from ne, no, not, and aio, I say yes; Pr. denegar, denejar, Sp. & Pg. denegar, It. dinegare. Cf. DENEGATE.]

1. To contradict; to gainsay; to declare not to be true. We deny what another says, or we deny a proposition. We deny the truth of an assertion, or the assertion itself.
2. To refuse; to reject.

They never wear Deserved favors that deny to take When they are offered freely. J. Fletcher. 3. To refuse to grant; to withhold; not to afford; as, to deny bread to the hungry. Who finds not Providence all good and wise, Alike in what he gives, and what denies. Pope. 4. To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure. He afterward uttered the falsehood of denying his opinion. Bancroft. 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.