disputation (dis put ash on)

[ Merlyn hym ansuerde to alle the questiouns that he asked the very trout he as it was, and so in dured longe the dis put a cion be-twene hem tweyne. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 139. Our Lord and Saviour himself did hope by disputation to do some good, yea by disputation not only of, but against the truth, albeit with purpose for the truth. Hooker , Eccles. Polity, iii. 8. 2. An exercise in which parties debate and argue on some question proposed, as in a school or college. The medieval logics, under the head of ob ligations, give minute rules for these exercises. The first party, the respondent, undertakes to defend a given the sis. The second party, the opponent, begins by giving a number of arguments against the thesis. If there are several opponents, they all offer arguments. The respondent then gives positive reasons in syllogistic form, after which he responds briefly to all the arguments of the opponents in order. The latter may or may not be allowed to reply. Finally, the moderator sums up and renders his decision. Doctrinal disputation concerns a matter of certain knowledge, dialectical disputation a matter of opinion. Tenta tive disputation is intended to try the knowledge of the parties, or of one of them. Sophistical disputation is intended to deceive. All the disputation of the learned never brought to light one effect of nature before unknown. Bacon, Praise of Knowledge (1590), Works, VIII. 124. Academical disputations are two-fold, ordinary and ex Same as disburse. dispurveyt (dis-per-vā'), v. t. [OF. * despour veier, desporvoir, despourvoir, F. dépourvoir, deprive, For not oonly the patrone, but al the pylgrymes and also the galyotes, were clerely dyspurueyde of brede, wyne, and all other vytaylle. Sir R. Guylforde , Pylgrymage, p. 60. They dispurvey their vestry of such treasure As they may spare. Heywood, dispurvey an cet (dis-pèr-vāʼans), n. [ dispur vey + -ance .] Want of provision; lack of food. Daily siege, through dispurvayaunce long And lacke of reskewes, will to parley drive. Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 10.