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deny of

C1 formal inseparable transitive
In simple words

An old-fashioned way of saying to stop someone from having something they need or want.

Literal meaning: To deny (refuse/withhold) something, specifying what is withheld with 'of'.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

(Archaic) To deprive someone of something; to withhold something from a person.

"The tyrant denied the people of their basic freedoms."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

This construction is largely archaic and not used in modern English. In contemporary English, 'deny someone something' or 'deprive of' is standard. ESL learners are unlikely to encounter this except in older literary texts.

Commonly used with

rights access knowledge liberty sustenance

Forms

Base
deny of
I/you/we/they
3rd person
denies of
he/she/it
Past simple
denied of
yesterday
Past participle
denied of
have + pp
-ing form
denying of
continuous

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Synonyms

deprive of rob of withhold from deny refuse

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