[ad. L. confūtātiōn-em, n. of action from confūtāre to CONFUTE. (Also in mod.F.; not in Cotgr., 1611.)]
1. The action of confuting; disproving, disproof, overthrow in argument.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 216. This poynt is put to the confutacyon … of all suche heretykes.
1532. More (title), The Confutacyon of Tindales Answere.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. i. 98. In confutation of which rude reproach, And in defence of my Lords worthinesse, I craue the benefit of Law of Armes.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., iii. 40. It is needless to waste time in the confutation thereof.
1758. Johnson, in Boswell. Sir, I have never read Bolingbroke’s impiety, and therefore am not interested about its confutation.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph. (1859), II. xxxv. 304. The first point … is his Confutation of the Nominalists.
2. (with a and pl.) The complete argument, statement, or treatise, in which anything is confuted.
a. 1535. More, Wks., 845 (R.). Suche thynges as I write … are clear confutacions of false blasphemous heresies.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xvi. 414. Councils were held, confutations were published.
1874. J. Stoughton, Church of Rev., xix. 425. Errors are separated from truths, and confutations supplied.
