disown, v.
(dɪsˈəʊn)
[f. dis- 6 + own v.: cf. disclaim.
(In some recent dictionaries, this and the simple own have each been improperly split up into two verbs, sense 3 being erroneously assumed to be derived from OE. unnan to grant, with which it has no connexion: see own v.)]
† 1. trans. To cease to own, to relinquish one's possession of; to give up, part with, renounce.
| c 1620 H. Anderson Bidding World Farewell in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 304 The houre is set wherein they must disown The royal pomp, the treasure, and the throne. |
2. To refuse to acknowledge as one's own, or as connected with oneself; not to own; to renounce, repudiate, disclaim.
| 1649 St. Trials, Col. J. Lilburn (R.) You say it is impossible for you..without advice of counsel to own or disown books. 1659 D. Pell Impr. Sea 415 That Christ will disown, and reject many that have strong hopes..of their Salvation. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 130 The king..had not the least Regard to his Word, and even disown'd a Letter he had written to..the King of France. 1777 Franklin Lett. Wks. (1889) VI. 117, I see..that Mr. Deane is disowned in some of his agreements with officers. 1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad i. 4 He had for some time disowned them as sons. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 116 The prince..was..required to disown..the obligations contracted in his name. |
b. To refuse to acknowledge the authority of (a government, etc.) over oneself; to renounce allegiance to.
| 1693 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 89 Sir George Downing, who disowned this government at the beginning of the revolution..has taken the oaths. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 127 Their Mufti..disowns the Emperor's Authority. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 705 As soon as James was restored, it would be a duty to disown and withstand him. The present duty was to disown and withstand his son in law. |
c. In the Society of Friends: To disclaim as a fellow-member; to expel from membership.
| 1727 Minutes of Yearly Meeting of Soc. Friends 26 Mar. (J. Phillips, 1783), Any person denied by a Monthly Meeting is adjudged as disowned by Friends and to stand and remain in that state, till by his repentance..he is reconciled to Friends, or reinstated in membership among them. 1783–1883 Book of Discipline of Soc. Friends 204 Which Meeting is to receive his acknowledgment or to disown him, as in its judgment the case shall require. 1806 [see disownment]. |
† 3. To refuse to acknowledge or admit (anything imputed, claimed, or asserted); to deny. Obs.
| 1666 Pepys Diary 24 June, He do not disowne but that the dividing of the fleet..was a good resolution. 1701 De Foe True-born Eng. Pref., Nor do I disown..that I could be glad to see it rectified. 1710 Lond. Gaz. No. 4752/2 The Court no longer disown his..Majesty's Arrival. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 26/1 We cannot disown that it has one Fault. |
Hence disˈowned ppl. a., disˈowning vbl. n.
| 1654 Ld. Orrery Parthen. (1676) 675 A disowning of their Quarrel by the Gods. 1707 Norris Treat. Humility iii. 119 A constructive disowning, and vertual denial of our having received what we have from God. 1813 M. Edgeworth Patron. II. xxiv. 70 Lord Oldborough had never, after the disowning of Buckhurst, mentioned his name. 1829 Lytton (title), The Disowned. |