[re.fuse] vb re.fused ; re.fus.ing [ME, fr. MF refuser, fr. (assumed) VL refusare, perh. blend of L refutare to refute and recusare to demur--more at recuse] vt (14c) 1: to express oneself as unwilling to accept "~ a gift" "~ 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 obs: give up, renounce
4. of a horse: to decline to jump or leap over ~ vi: to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission syn see decline -- re.fus.er n
[2]ref.use n [ME, fr. MF refus rejection, fr. OF, fr. refuser] (14c) 1: the worthless or useless part of something: leavings
2: trash, garbage [3]ref.use adj (15c): thrown aside or left as worthless