Wordwyrt

disavow

/ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ/dih-suh-VOW
/ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ/dih-suh-VOW

Meaningto disadvow, disallow

Common meaning: deny responsibility for or connection with

Journey through time

  1. Old Frenchdesavouer‘to disadvow, disallow’source
  2. Middle Englishmeaning shiftsto disadvow, disallow → disowndesavowen‘disown’source
  3. Englishmeaning shiftsdisown → deny responsibility for or connection withdisavow‘deny responsibility for or connection with’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Old French desavouer ‘to disadvow, disallow’.

Roots

  • desavouer Old French “to disadvow, disallow”

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