Refusing

Examples

• He amazed and horrified his five companions by demanding ordinary food and refusing to continue his self-mortifications. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• Lydgate felt shame, but could not bear to act as if he felt it, by refusing to see Mr. Farebrother; and he went down. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• I hold that by refusing to work with Mr. Bulstrode I should be turning my back on an opportunity of making my profession more generally serviceable. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• That was Mr. Ablewhite's revenge on Rachel, for refusing to marry his son! Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Miss Verinder alone stopped the whole proceeding by refusing point-blank. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
• He was charmed with me, for refusing His Royal Highness. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
• What, madam--_what_ could be your reasons for refusing Sir Philip? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• They behold in the sun the reflection of His glory; mere graven images they reject, refusing to fall under the 'tyranny' of idolatry. Plato. The Republic.
• Angry she was: bitterly angry; but she was more angry with Fanny for having received such an offer than for refusing it. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
• I know an economist who has a scheme for keeping down the population by refusing very poor people a marriage license. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
• It would be refusing to do for him dead, what she was almost sure to do for him living. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• Who is it, I said, whom you are refusing to let off? Plato. The Republic.
• You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition to it. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
• She must have some motive, more powerful than appears, for refusing this invitation, was Emma's conclusion. Jane Austen. Emma.
• A musical woman's voice, refusing to be rejected: it is the Citoyenne who would do France a service. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• Enter, she said, if thou art a friend; and if a foe, I have not the means of refusing thy entrance. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
• All the surer, I suppose,' said Mr. Bounderby, 'for your refusing to tell where he is? Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
• Urged by this view, I refused, and I did right in refusing, to create a companion for the first creature. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
• My question is only whether the just man, while refusing to have more than another just man, would wish and claim to have more than the unjust? Plato. The Republic.
• He asked to be forgiven for refusing anything to me. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• You do not blame me, however, for refusing him? Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
• He had been within a hair's-breadth of refusing to act as executor, and of allowing this magnificent jewel to be lost to the family. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconvenience, and I was frequently chid for my singularity. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
• I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.

Edited by Johanna