to revoke / deny
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to revoke
To officially take away a title, right, or award from someone by decision. This is usually done by an authority, a court, or an organization.
Dem Sportler wurde die Goldmedaille wegen Dopings aberkannt.
The athlete was stripped of the gold medal because of doping.
to deny
To dispute or not acknowledge that someone has a certain quality, ability, or feeling.
Man kann ihm seinen Fleiß wirklich nicht aberkennen, auch wenn er nicht immer erfolgreich ist.
You really can't deny his diligence, even if he is not always successful.
'Aberkennen' (to revoke / deny) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' appears at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
Das Gericht erkannte ihm den Titel ab.
The court revoked his title.
This verb requires a fixed sentence structure: the person from whom something is taken away is in the dative. The thing being withdrawn is in the accusative.
Man hat dem Fahrer (Dativ) den Führerschein (Akkusativ) aberkannt.
They revoked the driver's (dative) license (accusative).
The verb consists of the prefix 'ab-' (away, off) and 'erkennen' (in the sense of acknowledging). So the meaning is to take an acknowledgment (a title, a right) away from someone.
Wegen des Skandals wurde ihm die Ehrenbürgerschaft aberkannt.
Because of the scandal, his honorary citizenship was revoked.
In this official meaning, titles, rights, or awards are often revoked. Typical objects are: 'die Staatsbürgerschaft' (citizenship), 'ein Doktortitel' (a doctoral title), 'eine Medaille' (a medal), or 'ein Recht' (a right).
Der Universität wurde das Recht aberkannt, Prüfungen abzunehmen.
The university's right to administer exams was revoked.
In this meaning, the verb is almost always negated in order to express the opposite. 'Man kann ihm seinen Mut nicht aberkennen' means in effect: 'One must acknowledge that he is brave.'
Ihren Einsatz für das Projekt kann man ihr wirklich nicht aberkennen.
You really can't deny her commitment to the project.
to withdraw / revoke
Entziehen and aberkennen can both express an official loss. Entziehen emphasizes that someone may no longer exercise a right. Aberkennen refers specifically to the formal decision that a right, title, or award is no longer valid.
Nach dem Regelverstoß erkennt der Verband dem Sportler den Meistertitel ab.
After the rule violation, the association strips the athlete of the championship title.
Nach dem Regelverstoß entzieht der Verband dem Sportler für ein Jahr das Startrecht.
After the rule violation, the association withdraws the athlete's eligibility to compete for one year.
