confutations

I in like manner would have my doctrine enter quietly into the minds that are fit and capable of receiving it; for confutations cannot be employed when the difference is upon first principles and very notions, and even upon forms of demonstration.

The New Organon 2005

For the philosophy of Aristotle, after having by hostile confutations destroyed all the rest (as the Ottomans serve their brothers), has laid down the law on all points; which done, he proceeds himself to raise new questions of his own suggestion, and dispose of them likewise, so that nothing may remain that is not certain and decided; a practice which holds and is in use among his successors.

The New Organon 2005

The saint, fearing his plea might be the means of her losing the crown of martyrdom, made it appear by her wise confutations of it, that she was in her perfect senses, and protested that she had not been brought over to Christianity against her will.

The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March Alban Butler

Our debates were very different from those of common debating societies, for they habitually consisted of the strongest arguments and most philosophic principles which either side was able to produce, thrown often into close and serré confutations of one another.

Chapter IV. Youthful Propagandism. The Westminster Review 1909

Jacobs, 'are the dogmas set forth with the purpose of showing they are believed and taught by the Lutheran Church, the confutations of errors whereby it wished to declare that it contradicted them, and formulas of speech either expressly prescribed or proscribed.'

American Lutheranism Volume 2: The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South) 1894

Our debates were very different from those of common debating societies, for they habitually consisted of the strongest arguments and most philosophic principles which either side was able to produce, thrown often into close and serré confutations of one another.

The autobiography of John Stuart Mill 1873

The errors that are quoted to be confuted often remain more clear in the hearers 'minds than the attempted confutations.

Expositions of Holy Scripture St. John Chapters I to XIV Alexander Maclaren 1868

Contradictions and confutations keep slanders and heresies above water, which the law of gravitation would dispose of if they were left alone.

Expositions of Holy Scripture St. Mark Alexander Maclaren 1868

Some pretend to intelligence without understanding, whose relations are their own confutations.

Good Thoughts in Bad Times and Other Papers. 1608-1661 1863

Before we get through our work, we shall meet with abundant confutations of this rash and uncomplimentary statement.

The Friendships of Women William Rounseville Alger 1863