disown
verb (used with object)
to refuse to acknowledge as belonging or pertaining to oneself; deny the ownership of or responsibility for; repudiate; renounce.
were disowning
-
past progressiveof disown.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I heard women reveal to men that the children they’d raised were not theirs and elderly parents inform grown sons and daughters that they were disowning them.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
Regina felt his arm drop by his side, as if he were disowning her in the presence of these two smart women who were friends of his.
From Whosoever Shall Offend by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford
