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Webster 1913 Edition

Refuse

Re-fuse′

(r?-f?z′)
,
Verb.
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[GREEK] 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′

,
Verb.
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′

,
Noun.
Refusal.
[Obs.]
Fairfax.

Refˊuse

(r?f′?s;277)
,
Noun.
[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

,
Adj.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Refuse

REFU'SE

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. [L. recuso; re and the root of causor, to accuse; causa, cause. The primary sense of causor is to drive, to throw or thrust at, and recuso is to drive back, to repel or repulse, the sense of refuse.]
1.
To deny a request, demand, invitation or command; to decline to do or grant what is solicited, claimed or commanded.
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border. Num. 20.
2.
To decline to accept what is offered; as, to refuse an office; to refuse an offer.
If they refuse to take the cup at thy hand - Jer. 25.
3.
To reject; as, to refuse instruction or reproof.
Prov. 10.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner. Ps. 118.
[Note - Refuse expenses rejection more strongly than decline.]

REFU'SE

,
Verb.
I.
s as z. To decline to accept; not to comply.
Too proud to ask, to humble too refuse.

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