Re*fus"a*ble (r?*f?z"?*b'l), a. [Cf. F. refusable. See Refuse.] Capable
of being refused; admitting of refusal.
Re*fus"al (-al), n. 1. The act of refusing; denial of anything
demanded, solicited, or offered for acceptance.
Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels, On my refusal, to
distress me more?
Milton.
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.
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.