disproportionally 
disproportionally (dis-pro-por'shon-al-i), 
Without proportion ; uiieonforinahYy ; 
adv. 
une- 
[= 
qually. 
disproportionate (dis-pro-por'shon-iit), u. 
!'. disproportion!!!' 1 = Sp. Pg. di-spi-o/mmn 
= it. dispropi>r:ionuto, spropornoiutto, < aiu. 
itisproportioiiii/Hs, pp. lit' disproportionate: see 
disproportion, r., and cf. proportio>iate.~\ Out of 
proportion; unsymmetncal; without due pro- 
portion of parts or relations: as, a dispropor- 
tionate development; means disproportionate to 
the end. 
It is plain that men have agreed to a disproportionate 
and unequal possession of the earth. Luelte. 
Tile United States are large and populous nations in 
comparison with the Grecian commonwealths, or even the 
Swiss cantons; and they are growing every day mure dis. 
proportionate, and therefore It-sa capable of being held to- 
gether by simple government*. 
J. Adams, Works, IV. 287. 
disproportionately (dis-pro-por'shon-at-li), 
adi: In a disproportionate degree ; unsuitably ; 
inadequately or excessively. Hoyle. 
disproportionateness (dis - pro - por ' shou - at - 
lies), . The state of being disproportionate ; 
want of proportion. 
dispropriatet (dis-pro'pri-at), r. t. ; pret. and 
pp. dispropriattd, ppr. dispropriatiug. [< ML. 
'dispi'o/ir/iitHx, pp. of 'dispropriare () OF. des- 
proprier), dispropriate, < L. dis- priv. + pro- 
priare, appropriate^ proprius, one sown, prop- 
er: see proper, appropriate, expropriate, etc.] 
To destroy the appropriation of ; disappropri- 
ate. 
And who knoweth whether those Appropriations did 
not supplant these Supplanters, and dispropriate them 
of that which in a luster proprietie was ginen them in 
their first foundations? I'urchas, Pilgrimage, p. 133. 
disprovable (dis-pro'ya-bl), a. [< disprove + 
-able.~\ Capable of beiiig disproved or refuted. 
Formerly also spoiled disproveable. Jiailey, 
1727. 
disproval (dis-pr5'val), . [< disprove + -a/.] 
The act of disproving; disproof. 
The disproval of Koch's theories must come from actual 
work upon the subject (cholera bacillus], and not from 
literary efforts. Science, V. 63. 
disprove (dis-proV), v. t. ; pret. and pp. dis- 
prored, ppr. disproving. [< ME. disproven, 
usually despreren, < OF. desprover, desprouvcr, 
refute, contradict, disprove, < den- priv. + 
prover, prouver, prove : see dis- and prove."] 1 . 
To prove to be false or erroneous ; confute ; re- 
fute : as, to disprove an assertion, an argument, 
or a proposition. 
I cannot assert that, nor would I willingly undertake to 
disprove it. Everett, Orations, I. 414. 
The revelation of the Interdependence of phenomena 
greatly increases the improbability of some legends which 
it does not actually disprove. Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 376. 
2. To prove not to be genuine, real, or just; 
set aside by contrary proof ; invalidate : as, to 
disprove a person's claim to land. 
The apostles opened their heavenly commission, and 
executed it publicly, challenging those who looked on, 
with all their curiosity, subtlety, and spite, lodisprove or 
blemish it. Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. ill. 
That formidable armada, so vainly arrogating to Itself 
a title which the very elements joined with human valour 
to disprove. Barhain, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 18. 
3t. To convict of the practice of error. Hooker. 
4t. To disapprove ; disallow. 
Tins iest also, when they saw the Cardinal! not diproue 
it, every man toke it gladly, sauyng only the Frear. 
Sir T. More, Utopia (ed. Arber), p. 63. 
Some things are good ; yet in so mean a degree of good- 
ness that men are only not disproved nor disallowed of 
God for them. Hooker. 
St. Ambrose neither approves nor disproves It. 
Jer. Tat/lor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 20-2. 
disproveable, a. See disprovable. 
disprovement (dis-prov'ment), n. [< disprove 
+ -inent.] The act of disproving ; confutation. 
The scientific discovery . . . around which all Mr. 
Lawes's subsequent work centered was the dispromnrnt 
of Lie big's mineral-ash theory. 
Pop. Sei. Mo., XXVIII. 695. 
disprover (dis-pro'ver), n. One who disproves 
or confutes. 
disprovidet (dis-pro-vid'), v. t. [< din- priv. + 
provide.'] To fail to provide or furnish with. 
This makes me sadly walk up and down In my labora- 
ton. like an Impatient lutanist, who has his song book 
anil bis instrument ready, but is altogether disproridrdnt 
"trm Houle, Works, VI. 40. 
dispunct 1 (dis-pungkt'). r. f. [< L. ilix 
pp. of dispiiHfii re, check off an account, etc. : 
see </i.syii//'i.] To point or mark off; sepa- 
rate; set aside. [Rare.] 
106 
1681 
I desire the reader so to take me M though I doe not 
here dealo wlthall, nor speake of the matter, hut utterly 
t" haue pivt.'i jiiittnl ami <lt*iiiiwt<'d the same. 
h'oxe, Martyrs, p. <Wfi. 
Even the Mediterranean rxtent of Africa must have 
tin n unknown to Herodotus, since all beyond Carthage, 
as Mauritania, etc., would wind up into a small im-nn. 
siderable tract, as Ireing disjmncted by no great states or 
colonies. De fjuincey, Herodotus. 
dispunct'-t (dis-pungkf), a. [A forced form, 
which may be regarded as short for *dispuu<-- 
tilioux, < dis- priv. -I- MHUMhHU.] Wanting in 
punctilious respect; discourteous; impolite. 
Am. V faith, master, let's go; nobody comei. . . . 
Amo. Stay. That were disjmnct to the ladies. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, v. 2. 
dispunge 1 t (dis-punj'), v. t. [With imputed 
sense of expunge (f), q. v., but in form < L. dis- 
pungere, check off an account, examine, set- 
tle, < dis-, apart, + pungere, prick.] To ex- 
punge; erase. 
Thou tnen that hast dispong'd my score, 
And dying wast the death of Death. 
Sir J. Wotton, Hymn in Time of Sickness. 
dispunge- (dis-punj'), r. t. Same as dispongc. 
dispunishablet (dis-puu'ish-a-bl), a. [< dis- 
(hero intensive) + punishable.] Punishable; 
liable on an accusation. 
Xo leases of any part of the said lands shall ever be- 
made other than leases for years not exceeding thirty-one, 
in possession, and not in reversion or remainder, and not 
disfmnishable. of waste. Last Will of Dean Swift. 
dispurpose (dis-per'pos), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
dispurponed, ppr. disjiitrjjosing. [< dis- priv. + 
purpose."] 1. To dissuade; turn from a pur- 
pose. 2. To cross, as a purpose; frustrate. 
[Rare or obsolete in both uses.] 
She, but in a contrary manner, seeing her former plots 
dispitrposed, semis me to an old witch called Acrasia, to 
help to wreck her spite upon the senses. 
A. Brewer f!), Lingua, iv. 8. 
dispurset (dis-pers'), v. t. [Cf. burse, purse."] 
Same as disburse. 
dispurveyt (dis-per-va'), r. t. [< OF. "despour- 
reier, desporvoir, despounoir, F. depourvoir, de- 
prive, < des- priv. + pourveier, purvey: see dis- 
&n& purvey."] To deprive of provision ; empty; 
strip. 
For not oonly the patrone, but al the pylgrymes and also 
the galyotes, were clerely diispunteyde of brede, wyne, and 
all other vytaylle. Sir R. Guylforde, Pylgrymage, p. W). 
They dispuroey their vestry of such treasure 
As they may spare. Heinem*!. 
dispurveyancet (dis-per-va'ans), n. [< tlixpur- 
rey + -ance.] Want of provision ; lack of food. 
Daily siege, through dutpiiiTfiyaitufc long 
And lacke of reskewes, will to parley drive. 
Speruer, F. (J., III. x. 10. 
disputability (dis-pu-ta-bil'i-ti), n. [< disput- 
able : see -bility."] The quality of being disput- 
able or coutrovertible. 
disputable (dis-pu'- or dis'pu-ta-bl), a. [= F. 
disputable = Sp. disputable = Pg. (tisputuvel = 
It. disputabilc, < L. disputabilis, disputable, < 
disputare, dispute: seedispute, r.] 1. Thatmay 
be disputed; liable to be called in question, 
controverted, or contested; cpntrovertible : as, 
disputable statements, propositions, arguments, 
points, or cases. 
Faith, 'tis a very diujmtable question ; and yet I think 
thou canst decide it. Beau, and Fl., King and No King, i. 1 . 
He let down a shower of tears, weeping over undone 
Jerusalem in the day of his triumph, leaving it ilinputaUe 
whether he felt more joy or sorrow. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 298. 
2f. Disputatious; contentious. 
And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is too 
disputable for my company : 1 think of as many matters 
as he ; but I give heaven thanks, and make no boast of 
them. Shale., As you Like it, ii. 5. 
disputableness (dis-pu'- or dis'pu-ta-bl-nes), n. 
The state of being disputable. 
disputacityt (dis-pu-tas'i-ti), n. [Improp. 
form, < disputatious, on the supposed analogy 
of audacity, audacious, etc.] Proneness to dis- 
pute. 
Lest they should dull the wits and hinder the exercise 
of reasoning (and) abate the disputaeily of the nation. 
B;>. Ward, Sermon, Jan. 30, 1674. 
disputant (dis'pu-tant), a. and n. [< F. rlixpu- 
tiint, < L. flisput'an(t-)s, ppr. of dis/tutare, dis- 
pute: see dispute, r.] I. a. Disputing; debat- 
ing ; engaged in controversy. 
There wast found 
Among the gravest rabbles, dixpiifant 
"n iviints and questions llttlm: Moses' chair. 
Miltini. P. R., Iv. 218. 
II. . One who disputes or debates ; one who 
argues in opposition to another ; a debater. 
A singularly eager, acute, and pertinacious duputnnt. 
llacaulay. 
dispute 
disputation (dis-pu-ta'shon), ii. [< ME. dlsptt- 
, despiitiixinini, < OK. di. ./in in lion, despn- 
iesputeson, early mod. E. also contr. dis- 
pi rii in, <( }]f.di'spulisi>n,dixput<'ison,drsputaison, 
ilixpiitoigon), F. disputation = OSp. disputation 
= It. disputazione = D. disputatie = G. disputa- 
tion (cf. Dan. disputats) = Hw. disputation, < L. 
dispiitatio(ii-), an arguing, argument, dispute, 
< disputare, pp. disputatus, argue, dispute: see 
dispute, t'.] 1. The act of disputing or debat- 
ing; argumentation; controversy; verbal con- 
test respecting the truth of some fact, opinion, 
or proposition. 
Merlyn hym amnerdc to alle the questloims that he 
asked the very trouthe as it was, and so indured longe the 
ilisputacion Ite-tweno 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, ill. 8. 
2. An exercise in which parties debate and ar- 
gue 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 opinment, begins by giving a 
number of arguments against the thesis. If there are sev- 
eral opponents, they all offer arguments. The respondent 
then gives positive reasons in syllogistic form, after which 
he responds briefly to all the argument* of the opponents 
hi order. The latter may or may not lie allowed to reply. 
Finally, the moderator sums up and renders his decision. 
Doctnnal disputation concerns a matter of certain know- 
ledge, 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 in- 
tended to deceive. 
All the disputation of the learned never brought to light 
one effect of nature Iwfore unknown. 
Bacon, Praise of Knowledge (1500), Works, VIII. 124. 
Academical disputations are two-fold, ordinary and ex- 
traordinary. Ordinary disputations are those which are 
privately performed in colleges every day ... in term- 
time ; extraordinary disputations I call those that are per- 
form'd in the public schools of the university as requisite 
qualifications for degrees. 
Amhurst, Terno Filius (March 24, 1721), No. xx. 
At Cambridge, in my day [1823-271, . every B. A. 
was obliged to perform a certain ninnbi-r of disputations. 
. . . Some were performed in earliest ; the rest were hud- 
dled over. . . . The real dis^nitations were very severe ex- 
ercises. I was badgered for two hours with arguments 
given and answered in Latin . . . against Newton's first 
section, Ijagrange's derived functions, and Locke on in- 
nate principles. De. Moryau, Budget of Paradoxes, p. 305. 
Augustine disputation. See A ugustine. 
disputatious (dis-pu-ta'shus), a. [< disputa- 
tion + -oiis.~] 1. Pertaining to or character- 
ized by disputation ; controversial; polemical; 
contentious: as, a disputatious temper. 
The Christian doctrine of a future life was no recom- 
mendation of the new religion to the wits and philoso- 
phers of that disputatious period. Buctminstcr. 
They began to contract a disputations turn, which Frank- 
lin says he hail already caught by reading his father's books 
of dispute on religion. Kverett, Orations, II. 17. 
2. Inclined to dispute or wrangle; apt to de- 
bate, cavil, or controvert: as, a disputatious 
theologian. 
Religious, moral, l>oth in word and deed. 
But warmly disputations in his creed. 
Crabkf, Works, VII. 67. 
I shall not, therefore, I think, rightly be thought rash 
or disputatious if I venture to express difference from 
those modern political schools with which I feel that I 
cannot sympathise at all. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 225. 
disputatlously (dis-pu-ta'shus-li), adf. In a 
disputatious manner. 
disputatiousness (dis-pu-ta'shus-nes), it. The 
quality of being disputatious, 
disputative (dis-pu'ta-tiv), a. [= It. dispitta- 
tiro, < LL. disputatiriix, < L. diftputatus, pp. of 
disptttare, dispute : see dispute, .] Given to or 
characterized by disputation ; disputatious ; 
argumentative. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
The Phylosopher (sayth hee) teacheth a disputatitie ver- 
tue, but I doe an actlne. Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrie. 
Ill have thec a doctor; 
Thou shalt lie one, thou hast a doctor's look, 
A face 'lit/nil, itire, of Salamanca. 
B. Jonson, New Inn, Ii. 2. 
It is a sign of a peevish, an angry, and quarrelling dis- 
position, to be disputatire. and busy in questions. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 744. 
Disputative science, logic. 
dispute (dis-puf ). r.: pret. and pp.rfig>fevf,ppr. 
'ing. [< ME. disputen, desputen, < OF. aes- 
yr, F. disputrr = Sp. Pg. dis/mtar = It. dis- 
putare = G. disputireit = Dan. disputere = Sw. 
disputera, < L. disputare. dispute, discuss, ex- 
amine, compute, estimate, < dis-, apart, + pu- 
t/in; reckon, consider, think, orig. make clean, 
clear up, related to punts, pure: see pure. Cf. 
