Refuse (rfz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refused (-fzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Refusing.]
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. Cf. Refute.]
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.)
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.
1 more senses
4. To disown. [Obs.] "Refuse thy name." Shak.
4 other Webster entries under this spelling
Refuse, v. i.
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.
Refuse, n.
Refusal. [Obs.] Fairfax.
Refuse (rfs;277), n.
That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter.
Syn. -- Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.
Refuse, a.
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for refuse; he lists it under renounce.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.