Repudiate

Verb

Definition: To refuse to accept or be associated with; disown.

Definition: To reject as unauthorized or invalid; refuse to fulfill or uphold.

Synonyms: Reject, Renounce, Disavow, Disclaim

Antonyms: Accept, Embrace, Endorse, Acknowledge

Examples:

She decided to repudiate her father's beliefs and forge her own path.
The company refused to repudiate the contract, leading to a legal dispute.

Mnemonics:

"Repudiate" sounds similar to "refute," which also means to reject or deny.
Think of someone tearing up a contract and saying, "I repudiate this agreement!"

Etymology:

Origin:

Late Middle English, from Latin 'repudiare', from 'repudium' meaning 'divorce, rejection'.

Historical Usage:

The word has been used since the late Middle English period and has maintained its meaning of rejection and disassociation.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Repudiate a debt"

Explanation:

The phrase refers to refusing to pay a debt or acknowledging its validity.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Interchanging "repudiate" with "repossess" or "repossession."

Explanation:

While both words involve rejecting or disowning something, "repudiate" refers to denying or refusing association, whereas "repossess" or "repossession" is the act of taking back something previously owned or possessed.