browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
refuse |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Refuse \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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Refuse \Re*fuse"\, n. Refusal. [Obs.] --Fairfax. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Refuse \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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Refuse \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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: refuse n : food that is discarded (as from a kitchen) [syn: {garbage}, {food waste}, {scraps}] v 1: show unwillingness towards [syn: {decline}] [ant: {accept}] 2: refuse to accept "He refused my offer of hospitality" [syn: {reject}, {pass up}, {turn down}, {decline}] [ant: {accept}] 3: elude, esp. in a baffling way "This behavior defies explanation" [syn: {defy}, {resist}] [ant: {lend oneself}] 4: refuse to let have "She denies me every pleasure"; "he denies her her weekly allowance" [syn: {deny}] [ant: {allow}] 5: refuse entrance or membership; "They turned away hundreds of fans"; "Black people were often rejected by country clubs" [syn: {reject}, {turn down}, {turn away}] [ant: {admit}]
more about refuse