Verrrry interesting...
I have complained before (most recently on desperance's LJ) about BBC announcers using "refute" when they mean "deny".
Usually, this is in relationship to someone being accused of something, as in, "A charge he has refuted," when the person in question has merely said, "I didn't do it, guv," and has not produced solid evidence of his innocence.
Suddenly, this morning, I noticed that this had changed, and the newsreaders and commentators were saying carefully, "A charge he has denied."
Viktory for the English lanaguage!
Usually, this is in relationship to someone being accused of something, as in, "A charge he has refuted," when the person in question has merely said, "I didn't do it, guv," and has not produced solid evidence of his innocence.
Suddenly, this morning, I noticed that this had changed, and the newsreaders and commentators were saying carefully, "A charge he has denied."
Viktory for the English lanaguage!