'renounce' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'renoncier', ultimately from Latin 'renuntiare', where 're-' meant 'back' or 'again' and 'nuntiare' meant 'to report, announce'.

'renuntiare' in Latin passed into Old French as 'renoncier' and Middle English adopted forms like 'renuncen' / 'renounce', eventually producing derivatives such as the adverb 'renouncingly'.

Initially it meant 'to report back' or 'to announce,' but over time it evolved into the meaning 'to give up, abandon, or formally reject,' which is reflected in modern 'renounce' and its derivatives.