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con·fute

(kən-fyt)

tr.v. con·fut·ed, con·fut·ing, con·futes

1. To prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively.

2. Obsolete To confound.

[Latin cōnfūtāre; see bhau- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

con·futa·ble adj.

con·futa·tive (kən-fytə-tĭv) adj.

con·futer n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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