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.
