Definitions for: Refuse


[n] food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
[v] show unwillingness towards
[v] refuse to let have; "She denies me every pleasure"; "he denies her her weekly allowance"
[v] refuse to accept; "He refused my offer of hospitality"
[v] refuse entrance or membership; "They turned away hundreds of fans"; "Black people were often rejected by country clubs"
[v] elude, esp. in a baffling way; "This behavior defies explanation"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Synonyms: decline, decline, defy, deny, food waste, garbage, pass up, reject, reject, resist, scraps, turn away, turn down, turn down

Antonyms: accept, accept, admit, allow, allow in, apply, consent, go for, grant, have, intromit, lend oneself, let in, take

See Also: beggar, bounce, contract out, disdain, dishonor, dishonour, disobey, elude, escape, freeze off, hold on, keep, keep back, pooh-pooh, regret, reject, repudiate, scorn, spurn, turn down, waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product, withhold

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals begin with t
f letter animals
animlas that start with b