So categorical a rejection of faith in the public square is impossible to reconcile with our political traditions, of course.

The revolutionary spirit was captured in the categorical rejection of monarchy.

Responding to France, and to American calls for an international inquiry, the Government said: "Algeria, the sovereign state, renews its categorical rejection of any attempt to interfere in its internal affairs."

Casey, Meese and Michael Deaver sounded out Ford, who was reluctant but did not issue a categorical rejection.

Such a categorical rejection of a candidacy is now referred to as a "Shermanesque statement."

The White House was also careful not to join the Baltic leaders in their categorical rejection of a Soviet pledge to withdraw the soldiers by 1994.

That is why the Supreme Court's categorical rejection of the constitutional argument is so important.

"Any attempt to minimize the full sovereignty of Iraq over this vital lane would be faced with categorical rejection from our side," the statement said.

I do not need, either on behalf of my group or on behalf of my own Galician political organisation, to reiterate my categorical rejection and condemnation of terrorism.

The reluctance shown by some companies merely demonstrates a categorical rejection of the opening up of port services to competition.