Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1750, 1817, 1949
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DENY, v.
1. To refuse (to do something), esp. in mod. use to refuse to move or function (Bnff.2, Abd.2, Abd.9 1940). Obs. in Eng. since late 18th cent. but still used in Eng. dial. Also used absol.Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Ulysses' Answer in Sc. Poems (1785) 143:
Tho' the King did sair deny To part wi' Iphigene.Abd.27 1949:
The motor denied a'thegither half up the brae. For a' that he cud dee the brute clean denied tae move.
2. As in Eng. but used pass. in phr. it winna deny, it cannot be denied (ne.Sc. 1975). Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxii.:
Ye awe me money-it winna deny.
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"Deny v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/deny>
