redargue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Archaic/Rare)Archaic, Literary, Very Formal
Quick answer
What does “redargue” mean?
To refute or disprove an argument, accusation, or person in debate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To refute or disprove an argument, accusation, or person in debate.
To argue against or rebut an opponent's point with decisive counter-arguments, often with a sense of exposing error or falsehood. Historically, it implied a thorough, formal refutation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant contemporary regional difference, as the word is obsolete in both dialects.
Connotations
When encountered, it is equally archaic and formal in both BrE and AmE contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern use in both regions, perhaps marginally more likely to be encountered in historical BrE legal or religious texts.
Grammar
How to Use “redargue” in a Sentence
[Subject] redargues [Object (accusation/argument/person)][Subject] redargues [Object] of [error]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redargue” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scholar's treatise sought to redargue the prevailing doctrine of the time.
- It was his duty to redargue the false testimony before the court.
American English
- The theologian aimed to redargue the claims of heresy point by point.
- No evidence could be found to redargue his central thesis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in historical analysis of texts; not in contemporary academic writing.
Everyday
Never used; would be confusing or pretentious.
Technical
Not used in any modern technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “redargue”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “redargue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redargue”
- Using it as a synonym for 're-argue' or 'argue again'. Treating it as a common modern verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and is virtually never used in contemporary speech or writing. You will only encounter it in historical texts.
No. The prefix 're-' here is intensive (meaning 'thoroughly'), not repetitive. It means 'to argue *against* effectively,' not 'to argue *again*.'
For reading and understanding older English literature, legal documents, or theological works from the Early Modern period.
The verb 'refute' is the most direct and commonly used modern equivalent.
To refute or disprove an argument, accusation, or person in debate.
Redargue is usually archaic, literary, very formal in register.
Redargue: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈdɑːɡjuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈdɑːrɡjuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REDuce an ARGUEment to nothing by refuting it → REDARGUE.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR (to redargue is to decisively defeat an opponent's position).
Practice
Quiz
'Redargue' is best understood as a synonym for: