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 † Sputing, 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].
