▪ I. spute
obs. form of spout n.
▪ II. spute, v.1 Obs. or dial.
Also 4 spoute, 6 speut.
[Aphetic form of dispute v.]
intr. To dispute; to contend in disputation. Usu. const. with.
Modern instances from south-western dial. and U.S. are possibly of recent formation.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1308 Ne funde we nowhwer nan swa deope ilearet þat durste sputin wið us. a 1300 Cursor M. 19407 Vp þar ras to spute him with Men þat war o sundri kyth. 13.. E.E. Allit P. B. 845 Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spitous fylþe. a 1400 Hymns Virgin (1867) 46 And ȝit oonis y siȝ him spute in þe scoole halle. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 109 Oure lady sputyd wyth þe angell of þe maner, and how scho schuld conceyue. 1556 J. Heywood Spider & Fly xxxix. 4, I forbad here all spouting in souostrie [= sophistry]. Now thei speut, in speuting who may speut most hie. |
So † ˈsputing, disputing, disputation. Obs. rare.
| c 1250 Owl & Night. 1574 Þu ne schalt..Onswere non þar⁓to fynde; Al þis sputing schal aswinde. 1556 [see above]. |
▪ III. † spute, v.2 Obs.—1
[ad. L. spūt-āre to spit.]
trans. To spit on (a person, etc.).
| 1382 Wyclif Job xxx. 10 To spute [L. conspuere] my face they shame not. |