I. re·fuse ri-ˈfyüz verb
( re·fused ; re·fus·ing )
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 decline
• re·fus·er noun
II. ref·use ˈre-ˌfyüs, -ˌfyüz 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. ref·use ˈre-ˌfyüs, -ˌfyüz adjective
Date: 15th century
: thrown aside or left as worthless