Declines to accept, do, or allow something; says no or shows unwillingness.
From Old French 'refuser,' combining 're-' (back) and 'fuser' (to pour). The sense evolved from 'to pour back' (reject) to 'to deny or decline.'
To refuse was originally to 'pour back'—imagine pouring water back into the pitcher because you don't want it; that physical rejection became our word for saying no!
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