[ad. L. abnegātiōn-em refusal, denial, n. of action from abnegāre: see ABNEGATE, and cf. Fr. abnégation (16th c.) in Littré, which has only meaning 2.]
1. Denial, negation; refusal, formal rejection (of a doctrine, etc.).
1554. Knox, Godly Letter, C. vj. b. What is in Asya? ignoraunce of God, what in Affrika? abnegation of Christe.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter, ii. 2 (1865), 235. Let us follow Peter’s confession, not his abnegation.
1646. Gaule, Cases Consc., 148. That hath brought us to an Abnegation of the Sacred Trinity.
1825. Southey, in Q. Rev., XXXIII. 155. On Easter … he was to eat animal food, in abnegation of the opinion imputed to the heretics on that subject.
1875. McLaren, Serm., Ser. II. xiv. 253. It is no cowardly abnegation of the responsibility of choice which is here enjoined.
2. Denial (of anything) to oneself; self-denial; renunciation (of rights, claims, or things esteemed).
1639. Rouse, Heav. Univ., vi. 91 (1702). The abnegation of all humane wisdon in a passive childlike resignation of the soul to the Divine Spirit.
1863. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord., 242. He set forth to preach … humility, abnegation of the world.
1866. Motley, Dutch Rep., III. ix. 519. His abnegation of an authority which he had not dared to assume.
3. Self-abnegation; renunciation of oneself; self-sacrifice.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 304. So much humility, so much abnegation … do not these discover a true mortified spirit?
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot. (1692), II. v. 146. The Pretences of Romanists to Abnegation, to a Mortified and Self-denying Life.
1858. Carlyle, Heroes, 237. Difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom, death are the allurements that act on the heart of man.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 399. That alternation … of sordid selfishness and sublime abnegation.
b. Self is now often expressed.
1847. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., viii. 77. The principal reason, however, which rendered the monastic orders so powerful … was the total abnegation of self.
1870. Bowen, Logic, xiii. 446. That earnestness of inquiring purpose which leads not so much to an abnegation as to the entire forgetfulness of self.
