Etymology of the English word refute
the English word
refutederived from the Late Latin word
refutare (check; refute)
using the Proto-Indo-European prefix
bhau- (to hit)
Date
The earliest known usage of refute in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
refuted,
refutingCognates
French
réfuter, Italian
rifiutareUsage
Word found in Modern English
