refuse

refuse
I. verb (refused; refusing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refusare, perhaps blend of Latin refutare to refute and recusare to demur — more at recuse Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to express oneself as unwilling to accept <
refuse a gift
>
<
refuse a promotion
>
2. a. to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with <
refused to answer the question
>
b. deny <
they were refused admittance to the game
>
3. obsolete give up, renounce <
deny thy father and refuse thy name — Shakespeare
>
4. of a horse to decline to jump or leap over intransitive verb to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission Synonyms: see declinerefuser noun II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from refuser Date: 14th century 1. the worthless or useless part of something ; leavings 2. trash, garbage III. adjective Date: 15th century thrown aside or left as worthless

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • refuse — vb *decline, reject, repudiate, spurn Analogous words: *deny, gainsay: balk, baffle, *frustrate, thwart, foil: debar, *exclude, shut out refuse n Refuse, waste, rubbish, trash, debris, garbage, offal can all mean matter that is regarded as… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — UK US /rɪˈfjuːz/ verb [I or T] ► to say that you will not do or accept something: refuse an offer/request/invitation »The government proposes to cut unemployment benefits to those who refuse job offers. refuse sb sth »The company was forced to… …   Financial and business terms

  • refuse — Ⅰ. refuse [1] ► VERB 1) state that one is unwilling to do something. 2) state that one is unwilling to grant or accept (something offered or requested). 3) (of a horse) decline to jump (a fence or other obstacle). DERIVATIVES refusal noun refuser …   English terms dictionary

  • Refuse — Re*fuse , v. i. To deny compliance; not to comply. [1913 Webster] Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse. Garth. [1913 Webster] If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword. Isa. i. 20. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — [n] garbage debris, dregs, dross, dump, dust, hogwash*, junk, leavings, litter, muck, offal, rejectamenta*, remains, residue, rubbish, scraps, scum*, sediment, slop*, sweepings, swill, trash, waste, waste matter; concept 260 Ant. assets,… …   New thesaurus

  • 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. [1913 Webster] Syn: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Refuse — Ref use, a. Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. [1913 Webster] Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 1. Sam. xv. 9. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — I verb abjure, abnegate, abstain, balk, bar, be obstinate, be unwilling, beg to be excused, cast aside, debar, decline, demur, deny, disaccord with, disallow, disapprove, disavow, disclaim, discountenance, discredit, dismiss, disown, dispense… …   Law dictionary

  • refusé — ● refusé, refusée nom Candidat non admis à un examen. ● refusé, refusée (synonymes) nom Candidat non admis à un examen. Synonymes : ajourné collé (familier) recalé (familier) Contraires …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • refuse — refuse1 [ri fyo͞oz′] vt. refused, refusing [ME refusen < OFr refuser < LL * refusare < L refusus, pp. of refundere: see REFUND1] 1. to decline to accept; reject 2. a) to decline to do, give, or grant …   English World dictionary

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