disavow Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb refuse to acknowledge; disclaim knowledge of; responsibility for, or association with
    • Her husband disavowed her after 30 years of marriage and six children

WordNet

Dis`a*vow" transitive verb
Etymology
F. désavouer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + avouer to avow. See Avow, and cf. Disavouch.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Disavowed ; present participle & verbal noun Disavowing
Definitions
  1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny responsibility for, approbation of, an the like; to disclaim; to disown; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the crime.
    A solemn promise made and disavowed. Dryden.
  2. To deny; to show the contrary of; to disprove.
    Yet can they never Toss into air the freedom of my birth, Or disavow my blood Plantagenet's. Ford.

Webster 1913