Middle English edit

Verb edit

reneye

  1. renay; deny or disown
    • 1357, John Mandeville, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville[1], modernized spelling edition:
      And, amongst these other, there is a great image more than any of the other, that is all covered with fine gold and precious stones and rich pearls; and that idol is the god of false Christians that have reneyed their faith.
    • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 375-376:
      She rydeth to the sowdan on a day,
      And seyde him, that she wolde reneye hir lay,
      [...]
      She rides to the Sultan on a day,
      And said to him that she would renounce her religion, [...]

References edit