refuse

Etymology 1

Borrowed into late Middle English from Middle French refusé, past participle of refuser (“to refuse”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”)

adj

1. Discarded, rejected.

noun

1. Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

Etymology 2

From Middle English refusen, from Old French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refūsāre, a blend of Classical Latin refūtāre and recūtāre.

verb

1. (transitive) To decline (a request or demand).
   My request for a pay rise was refused.
2. (intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
   I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
   I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused.
   City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play. September 27, 2011, Alistair Magowan, “Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport
   Trump has explicitly refused to deal with the European Commission, seeking instead to conduct bilateral relations with individual EU countries. 2018, Michael Cottakis – LSE, “Colliding worlds: Donald Trump and the European Union”, in LSE's blog
   My thoughts are disturbed by a man and pooch trying to get off the front of the train. Despite hitting the door button, they refused to open. November 2 2022, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 58
3. (military) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.
   to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks
4. (obsolete, transitive) To disown.

noun

1. (obsolete) refusal

Etymology 3

re- + fuse

verb

1. To melt again.