SuaviloquyToday’s word

disclaim

Disclaim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclaimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disclaiming.]

1. To renounce all claim to deny; ownership of, or responsibility for; to disown; to disavow; to reject. He calls the gods to witness their offense; Disclaims the war, asserts his innocence. Dryden. He disclaims the authority of Jesus. Farmer.

2. To deny, as a claim; to refuse. The payment was irregularly made, if not disclaimed. Milman.

3. (Law)

To relinquish or deny having a claim; to disavow another's claim; to decline accepting, as an estate, interest, or office. Burrill.

1 more senses

Syn. -- To disown; disavow; renounce; repudiate.

1 other Webster entry under this spelling

Disclaim, v. t.

To disavow or renounce all part, claim, or share. Blackstone. Disclaim in, Disclaim from, to disown; to disavow. [Obs.] "Nature disclaims in thee." Shak.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for disclaim; he lists it under renounce.

Where he writes about it:

A person may deny, disavow, disclaim, disown what has been truly or falsely imputed to him or supposed to be his. — from renounce