- Refusing
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
That never yet refused your hest. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
3. To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or petition of; as, to refuse a suitor. [1913 Webster]
The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest tool that he may chance to use. --Herbert. [1913 Webster]
4. To disown. [Obs.] ``Refuse thy name.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
