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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Redargue, v. Also: (-arque). [e.m.E. (1547) and ME redargue (Wyclif), appar. obs. in all senses by 1680, obs. F. rédarguer (14th c. in Littré), L. redarguere.]Also in the later dial. in senses 2 and 3.

1. tr. To reprove (oneself, or another). 1640 Popes Conclave.
How deservedly ought they to be redargued, who [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 33/22 (C,D).
[Quhen he had pansit in this maner wp and doun and] redarguit [himself for his slouthfulnes] 1682 Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254 No. 7741.
The generall's office hes universall inspection over … the officers … and when they faill in the least hes power to redargue and comptroll them

2. To confute (a person) by argument. 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 3.
It is your part by this your conference more solidly to redargue him a1689 Cleland 98.
I'll with a base word you redargue

3. To disprove, or cast substantial doubt upon, (an argument, statement, etc.); to question the validity of (the premises on which an argument is based). Chiefly in legal use. 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 98.
The entrie bookis producit … does sufficientlie redargue Dumbartowne pretences 1673 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III 28.
Nor do they amount to the least weight to brangle, convell, or redargue the certain grounds of law whereon the defender bottoms Ib. 37.
Falsehood in one point of a witness's depositions, convells, redargues, and enervates the whole 1677 Lauder Notices Affairs I 184. c1678 Id. Observes App. 253.
If a contrare probation might be led so as to redarque the masteris oath 1681 Wodrow Hist. (1829) III 258.
The commission under the clerk's hand, can never be redargued by any probation of verbal conclusions and debates 1688 Acts Sederunt ii 179. a1689 Cleland 19.
Which he did never yet redargue, He found it easier to argue With ladies 1690 Swintons App. p. ccv.
The samen … are redargued by other records of Parliament 1694 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV 218.
If you can allege collusion, or any way redargue the truth of the account, I shall allow you yet to be heard

4. To put forward as a counter-argument or excuse. 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 779.
He proposes and redargues here, for examples sake, one excuse, comprehending all the rest

5. intr. Of a crime: To redargue upon (a person), ? to throw suspicion of involvement (on the pursuer). 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XII 409.
Your petitioner … will give to your lordships all satisfaction, and the cryme wherewith your petitioner is most unjwstlie charged may redargue wpon my informer