Withsake

Origin

From Middle English withsaken, from Old English wiþsacan ("to forsake, abandon, renounce, refuse, deny, oppose, drive against"), equivalent to - + sake. Compare Middle High German widersachen.

Full definition of withsake

Verb

1. (transitive) To forsake; abandon; renounce; deny; refuse.
• 1852, Alfred (King of England), The whole works of King Alfred the Great:Well! the king then openly declared to the priest and to them all, that he would firmly "withsake" and renounce idolatry, and receive the faith of Christ.
• 1852, August Neander, The First epistle of John: practically explained:... as Christ did not withsake, a love not preceeding from God and referring all to him, which the Apostle here forbids.
• 1987, Douglas Moffat, The Soul's address to the body: the Worcester fragments:... there appears a reference to the body "withsaking" the devil (G47), a clear indication that there was a time in the life of the body when it was not so thorough a sinner.