Word origin
[1585–95; ‹ F: lit., contradiction, ptp. of
démentir to deny, OF
desmentir, equiv. to
des- dis-1 +
mentir to lie ‹ L
mentīrī]This word is first recorded in the period 1585–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: competence, develop, puzzle, scuff, switch