- confute
- \ \ see BEAT
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
confute
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Confute — Con*fute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Confuted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Confuting}.] [L. confutare to chek (a boiling liquid), to repress, confute; con + a root seen in futis a water vessel), prob. akin to fundere to pour: cf. F. confuter. See {Fuse} to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
confute — I verb answer, argue, challenge, confound, contradict, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, countercharge, countervail, debate, defeat, demolish, deny, disagree, disavow, disown, disprove, dispute, dissent, fight, gainsay, impeach, impugn … Law dictionary
confute — 1520s, from M.Fr. confuter, from L. confutare repress, check; disprove, restrain, silence, from com , intensive prefix (see COM (Cf. com )), + *futare to beat, from PIE root *bhau to strike, beat (see BEAT (Cf. beat)). Related: Confuted; … Etymology dictionary
confute — controvert, refute, *disprove, rebut … New Dictionary of Synonyms
confute — [v] disprove, refute blow sky high*, break, bring to naught, confound, contradict, controvert, defeat, demolish, dismay, disprove, expose, invalidate, knocks props out from under*, negate, oppugn, overcome, overthrow, overturn, overwhelm, parry,… … New thesaurus
confute — ► VERB formal ▪ prove to be wrong. DERIVATIVES confutation noun. ORIGIN Latin confutare restrain, answer conclusively … English terms dictionary
confute — [kən fyo͞ot′] vt. confuted, confuting [L confutare < com , intens. + * futare < IE base * bhau t, * bhu t, to strike, BEAT] 1. to prove (a person, statement, etc.) to be in error or false; overcome by argument or proof 2. Obs. to make… … English World dictionary
confute — confutable, adj. confuter, n. /keuhn fyooht /, v.t., confuted, confuting. 1. to prove to be false, invalid, or defective; disprove: to confute an argument. 2. to prove (a person) to be wrong by argument or proof: to confute one s opponent. 3. Obs … Universalium
confute — /kənˈfjut / (say kuhn fyooht) verb (t) (confuted, confuting) 1. to prove to be false or defective; disprove: to confute an argument. 2. to prove to be wrong; convict of error by argument or proof: to confute one s opponent. 3. to confound or… …
confute — verb To disprove or refute; to show something to be false or someone to be wrong. Procatalepsis is a forme of speech by which the Orator perceiving aforehand what might be objected against him, and hurt him, doth confute it before it be spoken … Wiktionary
confute — con•fute [[t]kənˈfyut[/t]] v. t. fut•ed, fut•ing 1) to prove to be false, invalid, or defective; disprove: to confute an argument[/ex] 2) to prove (a person) to be wrong by argument or proof 3) Obs. to bring to naught; confound • Etymology:… … From formal English to slang
