refuse

Where does the word "refuse" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin refusare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Refuse’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: refusare meant “to pour back.” 're-', back, plus 'fundere', to pour. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as refuser. The noun 'refuse', rubbish, is what is rejected. It reached English by 1300s as refuse. Both the verb and the noun came together. Today, refuse means to decline to do something.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient refusare "to pour back", 're-', back, plus 'fundere', to pour.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval refuser "to decline", the noun 'refuse', rubbish, is what is rejected.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s refuse "to decline", both the verb and the noun came together.