To remove, strip, or deprive of a name; to rename something by taking away its original designation.
From de- (remove, take away) + name. This is a straightforward formation following productive English word-building patterns where de- reverses or removes the action of the base word.
In medieval times, dename was used as a punishment—stripping someone of their name meant erasing their identity and status in society, which was devastating in cultures where names carried lineage and honor.
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