Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Refuse?

\Re*fuse"\ (r?*f?z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refused} (-f?zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Refusing}.] [F. refuser, either from (assumed) LL. refusare to refuse, v. freq. of L. refundere to pour back, give back, restore (see {Refund} to repay), or. fr. L. recusare to decline, refuse cf. {Accuse}, {Ruse}), influenced by L. refutare to drive back, repel, refute. Cf. {Refute}.] 1. To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant. That never yet refused your hest. --Chaucer. 2. (Mil.) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment when troops ar? about to engage the enemy; as, to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks. 3. To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or petition of; as, to refuse a suitor. The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest tool that he may chance to use. --Herbert. 4. To disown. [Obs.] ``Refuse thy name.'' --Shak.
\Re*fuse"\, v. i. To deny compliance; not to comply. Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse. --Garth. If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword. --Isa. i. 20.
\Re*fuse"\, n. Refusal. [Obs.] --Fairfax.
\Ref`use\ (r?f"?s;277), n. [F. refus refusal, also, that which is refused. See {Refuse} to deny.] That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter. Syn: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.
\Ref"use\, a. Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. --1. Sam. xv. 9.