\Re*fuse"\ (r?*f?z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refused}
(-f?zd"); 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.
         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 ar? about to engage the enemy; as, 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.

\Re*fuse"\, 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.

\Re*fuse"\, n.
Refusal. [Obs.] --Fairfax.

\Ref`use\ (r?f"?s;277), 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.
Syn: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross.

\Ref"use\, 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.