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Offer vs Refuse - What's the difference?

offer | refuse |

In transitive terms the difference between offer and refuse

is that offer is to put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way; to threaten while refuse is to decline (a request or demand).

In intransitive terms the difference between offer and refuse

is that offer is to happen, to present itself while refuse is to decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.

In obsolete terms the difference between offer and refuse

is that offer is to make an attempt; used with at while refuse is refusal.

As an adjective refuse is

discarded, rejected.

offer

English

(wikipedia offer)

Alternative forms

* offre (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) offer, from (etyl) . See verb below.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A proposal that has been made.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}
  • Something put forth, bid, proffered or tendered.
  • (label) An invitation to enter into a binding contract communicated to another party which contains terms sufficiently definite to create an enforceable contract if the other party accepts the invitation.
  • Derived terms
    * make an offer

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) offren, offrien, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To present (something) to God as a gesture of worship, or for a sacrifice.
  • *Bible, (w) xxix. 36
  • *:Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement.
  • (lb) To place (something) in a position where it can be added to an existing mechanical assembly.
  • *2009 , Roger Williams, Triumph Tr2, 3, 3a, 4 & 4a
  • *:The next stage is to remove and replace the top part of the right side lip, and offer the lid to the car to ensure all the shapes and gaps are okay.
  • (lb) To propose or express one's willingness (to do something).
  • :
  • (lb) To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest.
  • :
  • (lb) To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
  • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic
  • (lb) To bid, as a price, reward, or wages.
  • :
  • (lb) To happen, to present itself.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:The occasion offers , and the youth complies.
  • *1749 , (John Cleland), (w) , Penguin 1985, p.64:
  • *:The opportunity, however, did not offer till next morning, for Phoebe did not come to bed till long after I was gone to sleep.
  • (lb) To make an attempt; used with at .
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:I will not offer at that I cannot master.
  • *(w, Roger L'Estrange) (1616-1704)
  • *:He would be offering at the shepherd's voice.
  • *(Jonathan Swift) (1667–1745)
  • *:without offering at any other remedy
  • (lb) To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way; to threaten.
  • :
  • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to -infinitive. See

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (used in combinations from phrasal verbs) agent noun of off
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=2003 , author=James-Jason Gantt , title=Losing Summer , chapter= citation , isbn=t0595297498 9780595297498 , page=146 , passage=Once you finally discover yourself a dismember-er, a de-limber, a fucking head-cutter-offer , the most simple of tasks — enjoying a long walk outside, seeing a movie, conversing with a stranger in the library — all become prized and over-inflated moments of elation.}}

    Statistics

    *

    refuse

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Discarded, rejected.
  • Noun

    (-)
  • (UK) Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
  • Synonyms
    * discards * garbage (US ) * rubbish (UK ) * trash (US ) * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refuser, from .

    Verb

    (refus)
  • To decline (a request or demand).
  • My request for a pay rise was refused .
    I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
  • * Bible, Isa. i. 20
  • If ye refuse ye shall be devoured with the sword.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 27 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.}}
  • To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
  • I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused .
  • (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
  • (obsolete) To disown.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Refuse thy name.
    Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See
    Synonyms
    * (decline) decline, reject, nill, say no to, turn down, veto, withsake * (decline a request or demand) say no, forbear

    Noun

  • (obsolete) refusal
  • (Fairfax)
    English heteronyms English reporting verbs ----