- argue
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—arguer, n./ahr"gyooh/, v., argued, arguing.v.i.1. to present reasons for or against a thing: He argued in favor of capital punishment.2. to contend in oral disagreement; dispute: The Senator argued with the President about the new tax bill.v.t.3. to state the reasons for or against: The lawyers argued the case.4. to maintain in reasoning: to argue that the news report must be wrong.5. to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning: to argue someone out of a plan.6. to show; prove; imply; indicate: His clothes argue poverty.[1275-1325; ME < AF, OF arguer < L argutare, -ari, freq. of arguere to prove, assert, accuse (ML: argue, reason), though L freq. form attested only in sense "babble, chatter"]Syn. 1, 2. ARGUE, DEBATE, DISCUSS imply using reasons or proofs to support or refute an assertion, proposition, or principle. ARGUE implies presenting one's reasons: The scientists argued for a safer testing procedure; it may also imply disputing in an angry or excited way: His parents argue all the time. To DISCUSS is to present varied opinions and views: to discuss ways and means. To DEBATE is to interchange formal (usually opposing) arguments, esp. on public questions: to debate a proposed amendment.
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Universalium. 2010.