refuse

refuse
refuse1
refusable, adj.refuser, n.
/ri fyoohz"/, v., refused, refusing.
v.t.
1. to decline to accept (something offered): to refuse an award.
2. to decline to give; deny (a request, demand, etc.): to refuse permission.
3. to express a determination not to (do something): to refuse to discuss the question.
4. to decline to submit to.
5. (of a horse) to decline to leap over (a barrier).
6. to decline to accept (a suitor) in marriage.
7. Mil. to bend or curve back (the flank units of a military force) so that they face generally to the flank rather than the front.
8. Obs. to renounce.
v.i.
9. to decline acceptance, consent, or compliance.
[1300-50; ME refusen < MF refuser, OF L refusus, ptp. of refundere to pour back; see REFUND1]
Syn. 1. rebuff. REFUSE, DECLINE, REJECT, SPURN all imply nonacceptance of something. To DECLINE is milder and more courteous than to REFUSE, which is direct and often emphatic in expressing determination not to accept what is offered or proposed: to refuse a bribe; to decline an invitation. To REJECT is even more positive and definite than REFUSE: to reject a suitor. To SPURN is to reject with scorn: to spurn a bribe.
Ant. 1. accept, welcome.
refuse2
/ref"yoohs/, n.
1. something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage.
adj.
2. rejected as worthless; discarded: refuse matter.
[1325-75; ME < MF; OF refus denial, rejection, deriv. of refuser to REFUSE1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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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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