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reside as a moderator. Dr. Barlow [was] engaged ... to moderate for him in the divinity disputation. Bp. Barlow's Remains (1693).

Mode, or manner, of living; hence, a temporary arrangement of affairs until disputed matters can be settled.

and chancery called moots. Sir T. Elyot. Moot case, a case or question to be mooted; a disputable case; an unsettled question. Dryden. -- Moot court, a mock court, such as is held by students of law for practicing the conduct of law cases. -- Moot point, a point or question to be debated; a doubtful question.…

A disputer of a mooted case.

Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality. A dispute of this nature caused mischief. Dryden.

Having the appearance or form of a coin. "Nummular sputa." Sir T. Watson.

A disputer; a gainsayer. [Obs.] Bale.

Exposed; subject; open; liable. [Obs.] "Obvious to dispute." Milton.

Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; -- chiefly in the phraze at odds. Set them into confounding odds. Shak. I can not speak Any beginning to this peevish odds. Shak. At odds, in dispute; at variance. "These squires at odds did fall." Spenser. "He flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds." Shak. --…

To render universal; to enlarge. [R.] Omnify the disputed point into a transcendent, and you may defy the opponent to lay hold of it. Coleridge.

The act of opening an academical disputation; the proposition of objections to a tenet, as an exercise for a degree. [Eng.] Todd.

One who opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy; specifically, one who attacks some theirs or proposition, in distinction from the respondent, or defendant, who maintains it. How becomingly does Philopolis exercise his office, and seasonably commit the opponent with the respondent, like a long-p…

Origin; authorship. The paternity of these novels was . . . disputed. Sir W. Scott.

Among the Jews, penetrating investigation, disputation, and drawing of conclusions, esp. in Talmudic study. -- Pil"pul*ist (#), n. --Pil`pul*is"tic (#), a.

A Shakespearean word of disputed meaning; perh., "abounding in marsh marigolds." Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims. Shak.

; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump. First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul. Herbert.

A form of micrococcus found in the sputum (and elsewhere) of persons suffering with pneumonia, and thought to be the cause of this disease.

short and plain. Chaucer. In point of religion and in point of honor. Bacon. Shalt thou dispute With Him the points of liberty Milton.

Of or pertaining to controversy; maintaining, or involving, controversy; controversial; disputative; as, a polemic discourse or essay; polemic theology.

Polemic; controversial; disputatious. -- Po*lem"ic*al*ly, adv. Polemical and impertinent disputations. Jer. Taylor.