▪ I. † reˈnay, n. Obs.
Also reney, renye.
[ad. OF. reneié, pa. pple. of reneier: see next.]
A renegade, apostate.
| 13.. Coer de L. 4070 Quod the renay: ‘Mercy I crye!’ 1340 Ayenb. 19 He ys wel renay, þet þet land þet ha halt of his lhorde deþ in-to þe hond of his uyende. Ibid., Ine þri maneres is man ycleped reney and uals cristen. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2795 The renye relys abowte and rusches to þe erthe, Roris fulle ruydlye, bot rade he no more. |
▪ II. † reˈnay, reˈny, v. Obs.
Forms: α. 4 renai(e, -aye, 4–6 renay, (5 renn-, reyn-); 4 reneie, 4–6 reney(e, 5 reneyhe. β. 4–6 reny(e, 6 renie.
[a. OF. reneier, renier (renoier, etc.):—pop. L. renegāre: see renegue, and cf. deny v.]
1. trans. To renounce, abjure (one's faith, God, lord, etc.).
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 8995 Leuedis he luued,..Þat did him drightin to renai. a 1330 Otuel 524 Me ne stant nouȝt of þe swich awe, Þat þou sschalt make me reneie mi lawe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 121 Though a Crystene man coueyted his Crystenedome to reneye [etc.]. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xi. 42 Þe emperour Iulyan Apostata, whilk reynayd and forsuke Cristen fayth. c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. iv. 976 We haue heere a mayde whiche with obstinacye Reneyeth [v.r. reneyhithe] oure lawes. c 1475 Partenay 2173 Me moste here-After our lord to renay, And in sarisine lau beleue. 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1212/1 Hee..geueth..parte to suche as willinglye will reney their faith. [1900 Raleigh Milton 219 He renayed his ancestry.] |
| absol. 1340 Ayenb. 19 Alþaȝ he by be his zigginge cristen, he renayþ be dede. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 371 Lest I..be drawen to renaye, and sey, Who is Lord? |
| β 1375 Barbour Bruce ix. 739 Thow has a quhill renyit thifay. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 1254, I shalle..make the to renye thy laye. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 20/2 It is redde in thistoryes, whan he renyed and forsoke our Lord [etc.]. 1511 Guylforde's Pilgr. (Camden) 44 He shall be compelled incontynentlye to renye his fayth and crystendome. 1579 J. Stubbes Gaping Gulf C iv, The king of Nauarre..had felt the poynt thereof if he had not to hys honour..renied hys God. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xi. lxix. 285 For that thow should'st reny thy Faith, and her thereby possesse, The Soldan did capitulat. |
| refl. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly M ij b, They dishort vs from sinne, but I renie myselfe, if euer they coulde cunningly diffine, what that should be, we call sinne. |
b. To recant (an opinion). Also absol.
| a 1529 Skelton Replyc. 87 Fayne were ye to reny, And mercy for to cry, Or be brende by and by. c 1533 Song in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) I. App. xliv. 121 Which opynions wer good for thee to renay. |
2. a. To deny, disown (an utterance). rare—1.
| c 1440 Partonope 1835 That I haue sayde In no wyse for me shall be renayed [printed remayed]. |
b. To deny the truth of (a statement).
| 1510–20 Compl. too late maryed (1862) 16 For to saye that therin is servage In maryage, but I it reny, For therin is but humayne company. 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 66 She blusshed all red,..but not withstandinge she wende well assuredly to have renied al the case. |
3. a. To refuse, decline (a gift). rare.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1821 Ho raȝt hym a riche rynk [= ring]..Bot þe renk hit renayed, &..sayde, ‘I wil no giftez for gode’. |
b. To refuse to do something. rare—1.
| c 1489 Skelton Death Earl Northumbld. 78 The commons renyed ther taxes to pay Of them demaunded and asked by the kynge; With one voice importune they plainly sayd nay. |