to restrain (oneself) from gratification of desires archaic
DECLINE
to refuse to accept the existence, truth, or validity of NTRAVENE: DENY implies a refusal to accept a statement as true or valid; GAINSAY implies opposition by disputing the truth of something said; CONTRADICT implies an open or flat denial and suggests that the contrary is true; NEGATIVE implies as little as possible beyond a mere refusal to assent or approve; IMPUGN stresses an attack upon the truth of a statement or upon the integrity of the person making it; CONTRAVENE stresses a conflict or logical incompatibility between something said or prescribed and a present act or state of affairs - de.ny.ing.ly av SYN syn GAINSAY, CONTRADICT, NEGATIVE, IMPUGN, CO