Etymology
Advertisement

repudiation (n.)

1540s, "divorce" (of a woman by a man), from Latin repudiationem (nominative repudiatio) "a rejection, refusal," noun of action from past-participle stem of repudiare (see repudiate). Meaning "action of disowning" is by 1850; specifically as "disavowal of an obligation, as of a debt lawfully contracted," by 1843, often originally of U.S. states during the financial crisis of 1837-43.

Entries linking to repudiation

repudiate (v.)

1540s, "to cast off by divorce," also general, "reject, refuse to accept" (a person or thing), from Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare "to cast off, put away, divorce, reject, scorn, disdain," from repudium "divorce, rejection, a putting away, dissolution of marriage," from re- "back, away" (see re-) + pudium.

This is probably is related to pudere "cause shame to," a verb of unknown etymology. Barnhart, however, suggests it is related to pes/ped- "foot," in which case the original notion may be of kicking something away.

In reference to persons, "to disown," 1690s. Of opinions, conduct, etc., "to refuse to acknowledge, reject with condemnation," attested from 1824. Of debts by 1837. Earliest in English as an adjective meaning "divorced, rejected, condemned" (mid-15c.), from Latin repudiatus. Related: Repudiated; repudiating; repudiable.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of repudiation

repudiation (n.)
rejecting or disowning or disclaiming as invalid;
Congressional repudiation of the treaty that the President had negotiated
Synonyms: renunciation
repudiation (n.)
refusal to acknowledge or pay a debt or honor a contract (especially by public authorities);
the repudiation of the debt by the city
repudiation (n.)
the exposure of falseness or pretensions;
Synonyms: debunking
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near repudiation

republicanism

republication

Republicrat

republish

repudiate

repudiation

repudiatory

repugn

repugnance

repugnant

repulse

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper