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refuge Definition

ref·uge (refyo̵̅o̅j)

noun

  1. shelter or protection from danger, difficulty, etc.
  2. a person or thing that gives shelter, help, or comfort
  3. a place of safety; shelter; safe retreat
  4. an expediency or shift; action taken to escape trouble or difficulty

Etymology: OFr < L refugium < refugere, to retreat < re-, back + fugere, to flee: see fugitive

transitive verb -·uged, -·ug·ing

Archaic to give refuge to

intransitive verb

Archaic to take refuge

refuge Synonyms

refuge

n.

  1. A place of protection

    shelter, retreat, sanctuary, asylum, haven, safe haven, home, safe house, hiding place, ambush, cover, covert, coverture, sanctum, sanctum sanctorum, den, game preserve, nature preserve, bird sanctuary, harbor, harbor of refuge, anchorage, port, port in a storm, cloister, convent, monastery, ashram, hermitage, poorhouse, orphanage, safe place, fortress, stronghold, fallout shelter, storm cellar, hideaway*, hide-out*.

  2. A means of resort

    alternative, escape, resource, recourse, last resort, outlet, way out, retreat, exit, opening. See syn. study at shelter.shelter.

refuge Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • seek: With my fine art career over, I sought refuge in the school's dressing up box instead.
  • take: She, poor thing, took refuge at first with me.
  • find: These mothers will be lucky to find refuge in a garage or a stable.

Adjective modifier

  • pedestrian: RW - The Council should look at existing pedestrian refuges with a view to make them useful to cyclists.
  • temporary: As their usual home is closed for refurbishment, temporary refuge has been provided by Linda Chase, at the Tai Chi Village Hall.
  • safe: Such, indeed, is no safe refuge; such is not the refuge supreme.

Modifies a noun

  • siding: Many stations had loop lines built at them ( refuge sidings made into loops ).

Noun used with modifier

  • wildfowl: The adjacent wildfowl refuge is a roosting place for many species of wildfowl during the winter.
  • wildlife: Behind the pond is a small fenced off nature reserve that is a wildlife refuge on this busy site.
  • mountain: Your accommodation could include a hotel, lodge or mountain refuge, or camping in the wild African bush.
  • squirrel: Other red squirrel refuges are in Kielder Forest, in Northumberland, and Penrith, in Cumbria.
  • emergency: Amco Donelon are close to completing the construction of the seven emergency refuges.

Possessives

  • woman: The site will eventually be home to the women's refuge, which will be run by Women's Aid Orkney.

Preposition: in

  • cave: After a bloody defeat, and whilst taking refuge in a dark cave escaping the English army, Robert sat and pondered his campaign.

Preposition: of

  • scoundrel: He said it was " the last refuge of the scoundrel " .

Preposition: from

  • persecution: How come people who came here to seek refuge from persecution are destitute on our streets?

Preposition: for

  • runaway: We hope these images will help convince the government of the urgent need for a national network of refuges for young runaways.
  • wildlife: The resultant craters provide a refuge for wildlife, whilst the fallen tree trunks become a haven for beetles.
  • woodland: Hedgerows are a refuge for many woodland and farmland plants and animals.
refuge Quotes

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

—Bible (Old Testament)

God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid; Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.

—Scottish Metrical Psalms

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

—Bible (Old Testament)

   Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Because thou hast made the L, which is my refuge, even the most high, thy habitation.

—Bible (Old Testament)

But as for him who feared the Station of his Lord and forbade the soul its caprice, surely Paradise shall be the refuge.

—The Koran

Compassed round by pleasure, sighed For independent happiness; craving peace, The central feeling of all happiness, Not as a refuge from distress or pain, A breathing-time, vacation, or a truce, But for its absolute self.

—Wordsworth,William

The great advantage of a hotel is that it's a refuge from home life.

—Shaw, George Bernard

The French Revolution is merely the herald of a far greaterand much more solemn revolution, whichwill be the last† The hour has come for founding the Republic of equalsöthat great refuge open to every man.

—Babeuf, Fran c° ois Noe«  l

England is a great and powerful nation, foremost in human progress, enemy to despotism, the only safe refuge for the exile, friend of the oppressed. If ever England should be so circumstanced as to require the help of anyally, cursed be the Italian who would not step forward with me in her defence.

—Garibaldi, Giuseppe

Luftslotter,öde er safi   nemme at ty o‹  u" nd i, de.Og nemme at bygge ogsafi  . Castles intheairötheyare so easy totake refuge in. And so easy to build, too.

—Ibsen, HenrikJohan

Lord, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made: thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.

—Book of Common Prayer

Bemercifuluntome,OGod, be mercifuluntome, for my soul trusteth in thee: and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be over-past.

—Book of Common Prayer

Browse dictionary entries near refuge

  1. refuel
  2. reft
  3. refringent
  4. refrigerator car
  5. refrigerator
  6. refrigeration
  7. refrigerate
  8. refrigerant
  9. refried beans
  10. refreshment
  1. refugee
  2. refugium
  3. refulgent
  4. refund
  5. refunded
  6. refunding
  7. refurbish
  8. refusal
  9. refuse
  10. refused