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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Refuse \Re*fuse"\ (r?*f?z"), verb (used with an object) [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.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |