recūsō

1. Spernimus rejicienda, fugienda ut libidines. Contemnimus magna, metuenda ut pericula, mortem. Despicimus infra nos posita, ut vulgi opiniones; according to Lambinus. Or, spernere, spernari, aspernari (ἐκπέραίνειν) mean, not to care for a thing, in opp. to appetere, concupisse, Cic. Fin. ii. 10, 51. Plaut. Mil. iv. 2, 59, something like ἀποβάλλειν; whereas contemnere, poetically temnere (from temere), not to fear a thing, in opp. to timere, metuere, Cic. Fam. vii. 32. Att. ii. 24. Sen. Prov. 6. Tac. H. ii. 92, like καταφρονεῖν; lastly, despicere, despectare, not to value a thing, in opp. to suspicere, revereri, admirari. Cic. Off. ii. 11, 38. Tac. Ann. ii. 43, like ὀλιγωρεῖν. 2. Spernere denotes despising, as an inward feeling, synonymously with parvi putare, negligere; spernari, and the more usual word, aspernari, as an utterance of that feeling, synonymously with recusare, abnuere, rejicere, like waving from one. In spernere, the notion of holding cheap predominates; in aspernari, that of aversion or rejection. Spernere refers to an object which is at one’s command; aspernari, to something offered to us, or obtruded upon us. 3. Aspernari is confined to the simple avowal of aversion; whereas recusare includes the decided declaration of unwillingness. Curt. vi. 6, 7. Principes aspernantes quidem, sed recusare non ausos Persicis ornaverat vestibus. 4. The spernens follows a moral and rational aversion, and acts more or less with a consciousness of his grounds for despising anything; whereas the fastidiens follows a physical and instinctive aversion, whether it be an innate or temporary antipathy, which arises either from an actual loathing, or from what appears like it; lastly, the negligens follows the suggestion neither of reason, nor yet of instinct and feeling, but acts without thought or purpose. (ii. 178.)

1. Negare means to deny, from objective motives, when a man has, or professes to have, the truth in view, like ἀποφάναι, οὐ φάναι; whereas infiteri, infitiari, and infitias ire, mean to disown from subjective motives, when personal interest is in some way implicated, like ἀρνεῖσθαι. 2. Infiteri is an obsolete expression; infitiari (ἀνα-φατίζειν,) the usual and general expression; infitias (ἀμφασίας) ire is only connected with a negation, and answers to the phrase, not to assent to. 3. Negatio is a denial, merely conveying information to the hearer; pernegatio, or negitatio, to convince him, when he is incredulous; denegatio, to get rid of his importunity, when his request is useless. Martial, Ep. iv. 82. Negare jussi, pernegare non jussi. Cic. Phil. xi. 8, 19. In quo maximum nobis onus imposuit, assensero; ambitionem induxero in curiam; negaro; videbor suffragio meo tanquam comitiis honorem amicissimo denegasse. 4. Negare supposes a question only, whether actual or possible, which is denied; whereas recusare, a request which is refused; hence negare is a more general and mild expression than recusare; for the negans merely denies the possibility of granting what he is asked or requested; whereas the recusans also calls in question the justice of the request, which he protests against as a threat, or as an encroachment. Hence negare, denegare, are more used in private transactions; recusare, in public affairs. 5. Negare and recusare take place by means of words and speeches; abnuere and renuere, mostly by signs and gestures; abnuere, by waving a person from one with the hand, like ἀπονεύω; renuere, by drawing back the head, like ἀνανεύω. 6. Abnuere is a more friendly, renuere a haughtier manner of denying. 7. Recusare refers to an object which is considered as a burden, and claims resignation, in opp. to suscipere, Suet. Ner. 3; whereas repudiare (from repedare?) refers to an object which is considered as a good, and promises profit or pleasure, in opp. to assumere. Cic. Orat. 62. Cic. Fin. i. 10, 33. Sæpe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandæ sint, et molestia non recusanda. (iv. 40.)