WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Re*fuse" (r*fz")
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [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. C
Definition : 1. To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant. That never yet refused your hest. Chaucer.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment when troops aras, to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks.

3. To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or petition of; as, to refuse a suitor. The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest tool that he may chance to use. Herbert.

4. To disown. [Obs.] "Refuse thy name." Shak.

t. [imp. & p. p. Refused (-fzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Refusing.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Re*fuse"
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To deny compliance; not to comply. Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse. Garth. If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword. Isa. i. 20.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Re*fuse"
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : Defn: Refusal. [Obs.] Fairfax.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Ref`use (rf"s;277)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F. refus refusal, also, that which is refused. See Refuse to deny.]
Definition : Defn: That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter.

Syn. -- Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Ref"use
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : Defn: Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 1. Sam. xv. 9.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913