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Refutation   /rˌɛfjutˈeɪʃən/   Listen
Refutation

noun
1.
The speech act of answering an attack on your assertions.  Synonyms: defence, defense.  "In defense he said the other man started it"
2.
Any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something.  Synonyms: disproof, falsification.
3.
The act of determining that something is false.  Synonyms: disproof, falsification, falsifying, refutal.






WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Refutation" Quotes from Famous Books



... The paper is "On the Brain of the Orang Utang," and forms part of the bitter controversy of this period to which reference occurs in letters to Huxley and elsewhere in these volumes. Rolleston's work is quoted by Huxley ("Man's Place in Nature," page 117) as part of the crushing refutation of Owen's position. Mr. Huxley's letter referred to above is no doubt that in the "Athenaeum," April 13th, 1861, page 498; it is certainly severe, but to those who know Mr. Huxley's "Succinct History ...
— More Letters of Charles Darwin - Volume I (of II) • Charles Darwin

... no one, not even the artist, could have foreseen exactly what the portrait would be, for to predict it would have been to produce it before it was produced—an absurd hypothesis which is its own refutation. Even so with regard to the moments of our life, of which we are the artisans. Each of them is a kind of creation. And just as the talent of the painter is formed or deformed—in any case, is modified—under the very influence of the works he produces, so each of our states, at the moment of its ...
— Creative Evolution • Henri Bergson

... objection to Mr. Darwin's views was (and is), that they abolish Teleology, and eviscerate the argument from design. It is nearly twenty years since I ventured to offer some remarks on this subject, and as my arguments have as yet received no refutation, I hope I may be excused for reproducing them. I observed, "that the doctrine of Evolution is the most formidable opponent of all the commoner and coarser forms of Teleology. But perhaps the most remarkable ...
— The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Volume I • Francis Darwin

... making unreasonable conditions, had practically caused the breaking off of the negotiations, and even wished to bring about that result. As regards the former, an impartial examination of the Swedish final proposal is the best refutation. And as regards the latter, it may assuredly be affirmed, that there was no want of good will, on the part of Sweden, to come to a good understanding on the point, the last letter on the question written by Sweden is a sufficient ...
— The Swedish-Norwegian Union Crisis - A History with Documents • Karl Nordlund

... is to recite all the objections that have been made against sorcery, and to subjoin to each a distinct refutation. There is nothing in this part of the work that merits any attention. He concludes in these words: "I may then with confidence affirm, that the art of magic most certainly exists. History, sacred and prophane; authority human and divine; experiments ...
— Thaumaturgia • An Oxonian


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