I.v. dep. n., a publicists' t. t., to oppose, resist; to thwart, gainsay (one who sues for a thing; opp. suffragor).
I. Lit.: “illa lex petitioni tuae refragata est,” Cic. Mur. 23, 46: “ne refragari homini amicissimo videar,” id. Phil. 11, 9, 20: “alicujus honori (sc. triumpho),” Liv. 45, 40: “alicui, ne, etc.,” Vell. 2, 40, 6. —
II. Transf., to resist, oppose, contest, withstand (not in Cic.; “syn.: repugno, adversor): tacita quaedam cogitatio refragatur his omnibus,” Quint. 5, 7, 2: “cui non refragetur ingenium,” id. 10, 6, 4: “lactuca refragatur veneri,” Plin. 19, 8, 38, § 127: “gloriae suae non refragari,” Curt. 9, 5, 21.—Absol.: “si materia non refragetur,” Plin. Ep. 2, 5, 5.