Deny Ovid was needing translation (7)
I believe the answer is:
disavow
'deny' is the definition.
(disavowing is a kind of denying)
'ovid was needing translation' is the wordplay.
'needing translation' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'ovid'+'was'='ovidwas'
'ovidwas' is an anagram of 'DISAVOW'.
(Other definitions for disavow that I've seen before include "To deny knowledge of" , "To deny support" , "Deny responsibility for (something)" , "Refuse to acknowledge" , "Disclaim" .)