Etymology Map
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Refuse

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means to decline to do something

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

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

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.