"denial, rejection, repudiation, action of refusing to acknowledge," 1748; see disavow + -al (2). An earlier word was disavowment (1630s).
Entries linking to disavowal
disavow v.
"refuse to avow; disclaim knowledge of, responsibility for, or connection with," late 14c., from Old French desavouer (13c.), from des- "opposite of" (see dis-) + avouer "acknowledge, accept, recognize" (see avow). Related: Disavowed; disavowing.
-al 2
suffix forming nouns of action from verbs, mostly from Latin and French, meaning "act of ______ing" (such as survival, referral), Middle English -aille, from French feminine singular -aille, from Latin -alia, neuter plural of adjective suffix -alis, also used in English as a noun suffix. Nativized in English and used with Germanic verbs (as in bestowal, betrothal).