refus

n. 1. The act of refusing; denial of anything demanded, solicited, or offered for acceptance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels,
On my refusal, to distress me more? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The right of taking in preference to others; the choice of taking or refusing; option; as, to give one the refusal of a farm; to have the refusal of an employment. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Refused 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&unr_; 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 ]

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 ]

n. Refusal. [ Obs. ] Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

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 ]

n. One who refuses or rejects. [ 1913 Webster ]