renay

English

Alternative forms

• reny

Etymology

From Middle English reneye, from Old French reneier, French renier, renier, from Latin re- (“re-”) + negare (“to deny”). See renegade. Doublet of renege.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈneɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Verb

renay (third-person singular simple present renays, present participle renaying, simple past and past participle renayed)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To renounce (one’s faith or god), to apostasize from.
   • 1528, Thomas More, “A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. Chapter 15. That Princes be Boundẽ [Bounden] to Punish Heretykes, and that Fayre Handelyng Helpeth Litle with Many of Them.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book IV, page 279, column 2:

     […] Mammolukes and Geniſaries about yͤ Turk and Sowdã [Sowdan, i.e., Sudan], haue vſed to chriſten their children of purpoſe, that by the renayĩg [renaying] of their fayth, after, they might be made Mammolukes or Geniſaries, as theyr fathers were, and may be had the more in eſtimacion & fauour about the greate Turke, […]

2. (obsolete, transitive) To take back, to recant (something one says or believes).
3. (obsolete, transitive) To reject, to deny the truth of (a statement).

Anagrams

• Aeryn, Arney, Neary, Neyra, Raney, Rayne, Yaren, aryne, rayne, yarne, yearn