Negare; Infitiari; Infitias ire; Denegare; Pernegare;Recusare; Abnuere; Renuere; Repudiare
Negare; Infitiari; Infitias ire; Denegare; Pernegare; Recusare; Abnuere; Renuere; Repudiare. 1. Negare means to deny, from objective motives, when a man has, or professes to have, the truth in view, like ἀποφάναι, οὐ φάναι; whereas infiteri, infitiari, and infitias ire, mean to disown from subjective motives, when personal interest is in some way implicated, like ἀρνεῖσθαι. 2. Infiteri is an obsolete expression; infitiari (ἀνα-φατίζειν,) the usual and general expression; infitias (ἀμφασίας) ire is only connected with a negation, and answers to the phrase, not to assent to. 3. Negatio is a denial, merely conveying information to the hearer; pernegatio, or negitatio, to convince him, when he is incredulous; denegatio, to get rid of his importunity, when his request is useless. Martial, Ep. iv. <a class="pagenum" id="page147" name="page147">147</a> 82. Negare jussi, pernegare non jussi. Cic. Phil. xi. 8, 19. In quo maximum nobis onus imposuit, assensero; ambitionem induxero in curiam; negaro; videbor suffragio meo tanquam comitiis honorem amicissimo denegasse. 4. Negare supposes a question only, whether actual or possible, which is denied; whereas recusare, a request which is refused; hence negare is a more general and mild expression than recusare; for the negans merely denies the possibility of granting what he is asked or requested; whereas the recusans also calls in question the justice of the request, which he protests against as a threat, or as an encroachment. Hence negare, denegare, are more used in private transactions; recusare, in public affairs. 5. Negare and recusare take place by means of words and speeches; abnuere and renuere, mostly by signs and gestures; abnuere, by waving a person from one with the hand, like ἀπονεύω; renuere, by drawing back the head, like ἀνανεύω. 6. Abnuere is a more friendly, renuere a haughtier manner of denying. 7. Recusare refers to an object which is considered as a burden, and claims resignation, in opp. to suscipere, Suet. Ner. 3; whereas repudiare (from repedare?) refers to an object which is considered as a good, and promises profit or pleasure, in opp. to assumere. Cic. Orat. 62. Cic. Fin. i. 10, 33. Saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint, et molestia non recusanda. (iv. 40.)