- repudiate (v.)
- 1540s, "to cast off by divorce," from adj. meaning "divorced, rejected, condemned" (mid-15c.), from Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare "to divorce or reject," from repudium "divorce, rejection," from re- "back, away" + pudium, probably related to pes-/ped- "foot." The original notion may be of kicking something away, but folk etymology commonly connects it with pudere "cause shame to." Of opinions, conduct, etc., attested from 1824. Related: Repudiated; repudiating.