Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Argue

Ar′gue

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Argued
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Arguing
.]
[OE.
arguen
, F.
arguer
, fr. L.
argutare
, freq. of
arguere
to make clear; from the same root as E.
argent
.]
1.
To invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason.
I
argue
not
Against Heaven’s hand or will.
Milton.
2.
To contend in argument; to dispute; to reason; – followed by with;
as, you may
argue
with your friend without convincing him
.

Ar′gue

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning;
as, the counsel
argued
the cause before a full court; the cause was well
argued
.
2.
To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference, deduction, or reasoning.
So many laws
argue
so many sins.
Milton.
3.
To persuade by reasons;
as, to
argue
a man into a different opinion
.
4.
To blame; to accuse; to charge with.
[Obs.]
Thoughts and expressions . . . which can be truly
argued
of obscenity, profaneness, or immorality.
Dryden.
Syn. – to reason; evince; discuss; debate; expostulate; remonstrate; controvert.
– To
Argue
,
Dispute
,
Debate
. These words, as here compared, suppose a contest between two parties in respect to some point at issue. To argue is to adduce arguments or reasons in support of one's cause or position. To dispute is to call in question or deny the statements or arguments of the opposing party. To debate is to strive for or against in a somewhat formal manner by arguments.
Men of many words sometimes
argue
for the sake of talking; men of ready tongues frequently
dispute
for the sake of victory; men in public life often
debate
for the sake of opposing the ruling party, or from any other motive than the love of truth.
Crabb.
Unskilled to
argue
, in
dispute
yet loud,
Bold without caution, without honors proud.
Falconer.
Betwixt the dearest friends to raise
debate
.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Argue

'ARGUE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. arguo, to show, argue, accuse or convict.]
1.
To reason; to invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion or measure; as, A argues in favor of a measure; B argues against it.
2.
To dispute; to reason with; followed by with; as, you may argue with your friend, a week, without convincing him.

'ARGUE

, v.t.
1.
To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued the cause before the supreme court; the cause was well argued.
2.
To prove or evince; to manifest by inference or deduction; or to show reasons for; as, the order visible in the universe argues a divine cause.
3.
To persuade by reasons; as, to argue a man into a different opinion.
4.
Formerly, to accuse or charge with; a Latin sense, now obsolete; as, to argue one of profaneness.

Definition 2024


argue

argue

See also: argué, argüé, and argüe

English

Verb

argue (third-person singular simple present argues, present participle arguing, simple past and past participle argued)

  1. (obsolete) To prove.
  2. To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
    • 1910, ‘Saki’, "The Soul of Laploshka", Reginald in Russia:
      To have killed Laploshka was one thing; to have kept his beloved money would have argued a callousness of feeling of which I was not capable.
  3. (intransitive) To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints.
    He also argued for stronger methods to be used against China.
    He argued as follows: America should stop Lend-Lease convoying, because it needs to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
    The two boys argued because of disagreement about the science project.
  4. (intransitive) To have an argument, a quarrel.
  5. (transitive) To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
    He argued his point.
    He argued that America should stop Lend-Lease convoying because it needed to fortify its own Army with the supplies.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams


French

Verb

argue

  1. first-person singular present indicative of arguer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of arguer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of arguer
  4. first-person singular present subjunctive of arguer
  5. second-person singular imperative of arguer

Anagrams


Latin

Verb

argue

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of arguō