REFUSE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Refuse

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/rəfjˈuz/ /rˈɛfjˌuz/ /rɪfjˈuz/ Listen

verb

Refuse v. t. (past & past part. refused; pres. part. refusing)

To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant. "That never yet refused your hest."

(Mil.) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment when troops are about to engage the enemy; as, to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks.

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."

To disown. (Obs.) "Refuse thy name."

Refuse v. i. To deny compliance; not to comply. "Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse." "If ye refuse... ye shall be devoured with the sword."

noun

Refuse n. Refusal. (Obs.)

Refuse n. That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter.

Synonyms: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.

adjective

Refuse adj. Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. "Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly."

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Etymology of 'Refuse'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Refuse" Quotes from Famous Books

... making it a conquest of one by the other. The opposite disaster appears when there is no fusion at all but merely an alliance of two independent, self-centered persons who come together in the spirit of temporary self-interest and refuse to develop a common life. Even when they maintain the letter of the monogamic code, ...

— The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book • Various

... and kindness; and that you have no right to put her under such an obligation, and not give her an opportunity of expressing what she feels. Now, Mr. Edward, I am certain that she is earnest in what she says, and she made me promise that I would persuade you to come. I could not refuse her, for she is a dear little creature; as her father will go to London in a few days, you may ride over and see her without any fear of being affronted by any offers which he ...

— The Children of the New Forest • Captain Marryat

... at home, but at what a cost to his appetite when he had an invitation to dine at a boy friend's house! His hostess said, concernedly, when dessert was reached, "You refuse a second helping of pie? Are you suffering from indigestion, Johnny?" "No, ...

— Best Short Stories • Various

... a capital cook," said John Derringham, with smiling eyes, "but I should certainly refuse to cook for anyone but myself; and you, Mr. Green, who may be an indifferent artist in that respect, would have ...

— Halcyone • Elinor Glyn

... sadly; "unjust beyond endurance. I refuse you anything that is for your good? I, who would lay down my life ...

— Foul Play • Charles Reade

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