▪ I. renounce, n.
(rɪˈnaʊns)
[ad. F. renonce, f. renoncer to renounce.]
1. Card-playing. An act or instance of renouncing (see the vb., sense 7).
| 1747 Hoyle Quadrille 33 No person is to be beasted for a Renounce, unless the Trick is turn'd and quitted. 1792 A. Thomson Whist 119 (T.), If with these cards you tricks intend to win, Prevent renounces, and with trumps begin. 1830 ‘Eidrah Trebor’ Hoyle Made Familiar 39 If any one renounce, he is basted for each renounce if detected; but a renounce is not made till the trick is turned. 1863 ‘Cavendish’ Laws of Whist (ed. 5) 13 If a renounce is corrected after any of the subsequent players have played, they are at liberty to withdraw their cards. |
b. A chance of renouncing, by having no cards of a particular suit.
| 1830 ‘Eidrah Trebor’ Hoyle Made Familiar 24 Never force your partner but when you are strong in trumps, unless you have a renounce yourself. 1874 Gibbs Ombre 82* He rashly tries, having a renounce already in Diamonds, to clear his hand of Clubs, and so, having a renounce in that suit also, to give himself a better chance. |
† 2. Renunciation. Obs. rare—1.
| 1779 Burgoyne Maid of the Oaks v. i, From this moment I renounce it. Grov. And you never made a better renounce in your life. |
▪ II. renounce, v.
(rɪˈnaʊns)
Forms: 4 renonce, 4–5 renonse, 4–6 renounse; 4, 6–8 Sc. renunce, 5 renownce, 4– renounce.
[ad. F. renoncer (OF. also renuncer):—L. renuntiāre (-ciāre) to announce, proclaim, also to disclaim, protest against, f. re- re- + nuntiāre to make known, report: cf. announce, denounce, etc.]
I. 1. trans. To give up, to resign († to another), to surrender; esp. to give up in a complete and formal manner.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 475 Eche of ȝow þat schal not renounce alle þingus þat he has in possessioun may not be my disciple. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13629 My ryght I renonse to þat rynk sone. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 95 Ther renowncyd he All hys hy astate and eke hys dignyte. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. cxiv. 88 If they wylfully wold renounce the sayd place and put them in his grace, he wolde vtterlye pardon theyr trespace. 1530 Palsgr. 686/1 He hath naught to do withall nowe, no more than you have, he hath renounced his tytle. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 69 He shall renounce Naples, Milan, Gene, Aste and Flaunders. 1605 in Goudie Diary J. Mill (S.H.S.) 193 The said William Bruce..renunceis, quit claimis and dischairgis and ouer gives to the said nobill lord the said twa last of land. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 312 These Titles now Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd Princes of Hell? 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 748 The Victor Horse..The Palm renounces, and abhors the Flood. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. (1887) I. 240 The parents..renounce all future claim. a 1768 Erskine Inst. Law Scot. ii. vi. §44 (1773) 270 A tack ceases..if..the tenant renounce his possession to the landlord. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. xii. I. 333 They soon experienced, that those who refuse the sword, must renounce the scepter. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxvi. 351, I should require them..to renounce in writing all claims upon myself and the rest. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost i. 29 Whatsoever Thou forbiddest I will renounce. |
b. to renounce the world, to withdraw from worldly interests in order to lead a spiritual life.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xi. 78 Þei renounce þe worlde and take a Religious lif. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. clxiv. 157 Vpon .viii. yeres after that Lothayre..renounsyd the pompe of y⊇ world. 1657 Sparrow Bk. Com. Prayer (1661) 290 We renounc'd the world when we were baptized. 1779 Cowper Love of World 25 Renounce the world—the preacher cries. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 419 Declaring his own intention of renouncing the world and indulging his love of devotion in retirement at Mecca. |
c. To abandon, cast off, repudiate; to decline to recognize, hold, observe, etc.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxii. 253, I shall..renounce his law, and beleue in Mahounde. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 86 b, He required them to renounce the protestation of the yeare before. c 1645 Milton Sonn., On new Forcers Consc. 2 You have thrown of your Prelate Lord, And with stiff Vowes renounc'd his Liturgie. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 307 After which imprecation the wretch holds up one Finger, thereby renouncing a Trinity. 1713 Addison Cato i. i, Our father's fortune Would almost tempt us to renounce his precepts. 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. Wks. X. 466 To drive the Pope to extremities by wholly renouncing his authority. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 368 Napoleon renounced, once for all, sentiments and affections. 1895 Sir N. Lindley in Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 691/1 It is competent for anybody to renounce or disclaim a trust, and to have nothing to do with it. |
† d. refl. To give up (oneself), esp. in a spirit of resignation. Obs.
| 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 96 We confess yat we glaidlie embrace ye Croce of Christ, renuncis our selfs [etc.]. 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 541 Hee must renounce himselfe, and become like to the bruite beast. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 128 Wee should renounce our selves..because we are not our owne but Gods. 1649 Bounds Publ. Obed. (1650) 24 These Authors have read but of few Ionases, who voluntarily renounce themselves to settle a Tempest. |
2. To abandon, give up, discontinue (a practice, action, habit, thought, intention, etc.).
| 1484 Rich. III in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 123 To renounce the wering and usage of the Irisshe arraye. 1508 Dunbar Flyting 54 Renunce, rebald, thy ryming. c 1590 Marlowe Faustus vi, I will renounce this magic and repent. 1611 Bible 2 Esdras xiv. 13 Now therefore set thine house in order, and..renounce corruption. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 463 When the Romans renounced all right and fair dealing, these..opposed them. 1759 Dilworth Pope 73 He renounced all thoughts of paying attendance at Court. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 293 That tongue is silent now;..Renounced alike its office and its sport. 1838 Thirlwall Hist. Greece xvii. III. 7 A calamity befel them by which they were forced to renounce this design. 1849 Grote Greece ii. xlviii. (1862) IV. 253 He was compelled to renounce the attempt. 1887 Bowen æneid iv. 319 If a prayer can move thee, renounce this purpose of thine. |
b. To abandon or give up (a belief or opinion) by open profession or recantation.
| 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 1133, I dreid, without ȝe..renunce ȝour new opiniones, The spirituall stait sall put ȝow to perditioun. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. viii. 51 If thou wilt renounce thy miscreaunce,..Life will I graunt thee. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. 56 All others must..submit and renounce their errors. 1770 Junius Lett. xli. (1788) 224 We..do not begin to detest him until he affects to renounce his principles. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 87 On his refusing to renounce his tolerant maxims, [he] put him to death. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. xxvii. 380 Professor Forbes..renounced the theory, and substituted another. |
3. To disclaim or disown obedience or allegiance to (a person). ? Obs.
| 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. iii. C vij b, And whan one hathe hym named, then he demaundeth him, renouncest thou Sathan. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxiv. 10 Thow art my clerk, the Devill can say, Renunce thy God and cum to me. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Deacons, I from hencefurth shall vtterlye renounce, refuse, relinquish, & forsake the bishop of Rome. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 194 To repaire my Honor lost for him, I heere renounce him, and returne to Henry. |
b. To cast off, disclaim relationship to or acquaintance with (a person); † also const. from.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 55 Thee Gods haue flatlye renounst vs, Oure state that whillon preserud. 1594 1st Pt. Contention (1843) 24, I here renounce her from my bed and boord. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. iv. Wks. 1856 I. 54, I renounce thy blood, If thou forsake thy valour. 1700 T. Brown Amusem. Ser. & Com. 15 Tho' you presented him in the Morning, he will forget you at Night, and utterly Renounce you the Day following. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xiii, I never can renounce you, while you are unchanged. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxxiii, Your kindred renounce you. 1865 ― Mut. Fr. ii. xv, My brother has quarrelled with me..and renounced me. |
† c. In pass. with complement. Obs. rare—1.
| 1661 Cressy Refl. Oaths Suprem. & Alleg. 23 Can the King be acknowledged..a Head of Churches of which he renounces, and is renounced the being so much as a member? |
† 4. To refuse to do a thing. Obs. rare—1.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 68 This sayd, shee vannisht, and thogh that I sadlye requyred Too confer further, yeet shee too tarrye renounced. |
† b. With double obj. To refuse. Obs. rare—1.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 35 On sands they renounce vs an harboure. They doe bid vs battayl. |
† c. To refuse to carry out; to repudiate (an obligation). Obs. rare—1.
| 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 255 Lewis the twelfth, after the league for yeers was expired, renounced the payment of all publike or priuate pensions. |
† 5. To deny (a suggestion or accusation). Obs.
| 1596 Harington Metam. Ajax I j b, If you will say there is salte in it, I will acknowledge [= admit] it; but if you will suspect there is gall in it, I renounce it. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 305 When manie were suspected of the murder, and all renounced it [etc.]. |
6. intr. or absol. † a. To make renunciation. Const. to (the thing renounced). Also Sc. to dispense with (a thing). Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xviii. (Mary Egypt) 683, I sal renunce but delay to þis fals warld þis ilke day. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 46 Babilla with hir Sones sevene, Which hath renonced to the hevene. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. iii. C viij, He renounceth specyally vnto thre synnes. That is vnto pryde, to couetyse, and vnto lechery. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. iii. 147 He of my sons who fails to make it good, By one rebellious act renounces to my blood. 1728 Ramsay Last Sp. Miser xx, I thought..That chiel a very silly dunce, That could not honestly renunce With ease and joys..to win an unce Of yellow boys. |
b. Law. To make formal resignation of some right or trust, esp. of one's position as heir or executor.
| ? 1604 in Morison Dict. Dec. XXXI. (1806) 13897 The Lords found, That he..might renounce to be heir, albeit he..were decerned as lawfully charged, not having renounced debito tempore. 1695 Ventris Reports (1701) I. 303 There is no Book which proves the Acts of an Administrator void, where there is a Will and the Executor renounces. 1743 Swinburne's Wills (ed. 6) vi. §12. 444 Then two of the Executors of the Son died, and Hay the surviving Executor renounced. 1806 Morison Dict. Dec. XXXI. 13901 [The] Heir, before he renounce, must purge the Estate of his proper debts. 1870 W. D. Christie Mem. Dryden in D.'s Wks. (Globe) p. lxxix, Dryden died without a will, and his widow having renounced, his son Charles administered on June 10. |
c. To make a renunciation of something.
| 1868 Geo. Eliot Sp. Gipsy iii. 243 But you, dear Juan, Renounce, endure, are brave. 1872 ― Middlem. lxvii, Since providential indications demand a renunciation of me, I renounce. |
7. Card-playing. To fail to follow suit, to play a card of a different suit from that which has been led; originally implying the possession of, but now usually the want of, a proper card. In the former case revoke is now the current term. (Cf. renounce n. 1 and renegue n. and v. 4 a.)
| 1656 Hobbes Lib. Necess. & Chance (1841) 194 In the same manner as men in playing turn up trump, and as in playing their game their morality consisteth in not renouncing. 1676 Wycherley Pl. Dealer v. i, Since my lover has played the card, I must not renounce. 1728 Swift Jrnl. Mod. Lady Wks. 1755 III. ii. 197 Madam, you have no cause to flounce, I swear I saw you thrice renounce. 1747 Hoyle Quadrille 33 If any Person renounces and it is discover'd,..all the Parties are to take up their Cards and play them over again. 1787 Minor 92 He frequently renounced, and seldom returned her lead. 1830 ‘Eidrah Trebor’ Hoyle Made Familiar 41 The player who holds the same has a right to renounce in every suit during the whole game. 1862 ‘Cavendish’ Whist (1879) 112 A suit in which he knows that both you and the fourth player renounce. |
† II. 8. trans. To announce, declare, proclaim, pronounce. Obs.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 97 Tille..that the squier herde of the speche, and how it was renounced that he had leide .v. eggis. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. v. P vij, He [the curate] it ought to renounce unto his souerayne, as is the bysshop of the dyoses. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. x. 352 Joanna, the Dukes dauchter.., [as] Quene of Jngland al man in publick renunced. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ii. xx. 179 They..renounced Anathema to him, that should set downe the time of his [the Messiah's] coming. |
Hence reˈnounced ppl. a.
| 1717 L. Howel Desiderius 9 Too many of the most renounc'd Asceticks were celebrated for doing what was next to nothing. 1769 Oxford Mag. II. 144/1 In her renounced companion's breast. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 474 He..feels..A secret thirst of his renounced employs. |