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refute
5 dictionary results for: Refute
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
re·fute       [ri-fyoot] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object), -fut·ed, -fut·ing.
1.to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.
2.to prove (a person) to be in error.
[Origin: 1505–15; < L refūtāre to check, suppress, refute, rebut, equiv. to re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; cf. confute)]

—Related forms
re·fut·a·ble       [ri-fyoo-tuh-buhl, ref-yuh-tuh-] Pronunciation Key, adjective
re·fut·a·bil·i·ty, noun
re·fut·a·bly, adverb
re·fut·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. disprove, rebut. 1, 2. confute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
re·fute       (rĭ-fyōōt')  Pronunciation Key 
tr.v.   re·fut·ed, re·fut·ing, re·futes
  1. To prove to be false or erroneous; overthrow by argument or proof: refute testimony.
  2. To deny the accuracy or truth of: refuted the results of the poll.


[Latin refūtāre; see bhau- in Indo-European roots.]

re·fut'a·bil'i·ty (rĭ-fyōō'tə-bĭl'ĭ-tē, rěf'yə-tə-) n., re·fut'a·ble (rĭ-fyōō'tə-bəl, rěf'yə-tə-) adj., re·fut'a·bly adv., re·fut'er n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
refute 
1513, "refuse, reject," from L. refutare "drive back, repress, repel, rebut," from re- "back" + -futare "to beat," probably from PIE base *bhat- "to strike down" (cf. beat). Meaning "prove wrong" dates from 1545. Since c.1964 linguists have frowned on the subtle shift in meaning towards "to deny," as it is used in connection with allegation.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
refute

verb
1. overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; "The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments" 
2. prove to be false or incorrect 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Refute

Re*fute"\ (r?*F3t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Refuting.] [F. r['e]futer, L. refuteare to repel, refute. Cf. Confute, Refuse to deny.] To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence, or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; as, to refute arguments; to refute testimony; to refute opinions or theories; to refute a disputant.

There were so many witnesses in these two miracles that it is impossible to refute such multitudes. --Addison.

Syn: To confute; disprove. See Confute.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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