renege

English

WOTD – 21 October 2006

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin renegō, from negō (“I deny”). Possibly influenced by renegotiate. See also renegade.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈn(e)ɪɡ/, /ɹɪˈniːɡ/, /ɹiːˈnɛɡ/, /ɹiːˈn(e)ɪɡ/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈneɪɡ/, /ɹɪˈniːɡ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
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    Audio (US)(file)

Verb

renege (third-person singular simple present reneges, present participle reneging, simple past and past participle reneged)

  1. (intransitive) To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
    • 2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC‎:
      Just before half-time, Clattenburg awarded Spurs a penalty for the third time after a handball in the area but he reneged after realising that the linesman had flagged Crouch offside in the build-up.
  2. (intransitive) In a card game, to break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To deny; to renounce
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
    • Sylvester
      All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued.

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