arguable (arguabl)

[ When men say "mere philosophy," they mean something arguable, something deniable. J. R. Seeley, Natural Religion, p. 184. argue (är'gū), v.; pret. and pp. argued , ppr. arguing. ME. arguen , arguwen , mod. F.) arguer, lear.] I. in trans. 1. To bring forward reasons to support or to overthrow a proposition, an opinion, or a measure; use arguments; reason: as, A argues in favor of a measure, B argues against it. With what cunning This woman argues for her own damnation! Beau , and Fl ., Knight of Malta, iii. 3. Yet I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope. Milton , Sonnets, xvii. Paul argues that human reason so seeking for God can discover his power and his divinity, and holds that the true God is not far from every one of us. Dawson, Nature and the Bible, p. 206. 2. To contend in argument; dispute: as, you may argue with your friend a week without convincing him. For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still. Goldsmith, Des. Vil., 1. 212. How finely we argue upon mistaken facts! Sterne, Tristram Shandy, iv. 27. II. trans. 1. To debate or discu ; treat by reasoning; state the reasons for or against: as, Court; the cause was well argued . -er1.] One who argues; a reasoner; a dis puter. argufier (är'gu-fi-er), n. One who argues or argufies. [Colloq.] I have noticed that your people who are pretty well agreed are always the fiercest argufiers . W. C. Ru ell, Sailor's Sweetheart, i. argufy (är'gū-fi), v.; pret. and pp. argufied , ppr. argufying . [Improp. argue + -fy .] Ι. in trans . 1. To argue, commonly in a pertinacious manner, or for the sake of controversy; wrangle. IMG:content-1110.png:[blocks in formation] II. trans. 1. To contend about; worry with argument.-2. To signify; mean. But what argufies all this festivity? 'Tis all vanity and vexation of spirit. Mme. D'Arblay, Diary, vi. 41. [In all uses colloquial or dialectal.] argument able 2. The middle term of a syllogism. [See preceding note.] Argument is the bare proof or mean term which is invented by him that disputeth, to prove the truth of the question; but argumentation is the whole reasoning itself, of what form soever it be, comprehending both the question and also the proof thereof. Blundeville , 1619. Argument again, argumentum, - what is a umed in order to argue something, -is properly the middle notion in a reasoning-that through which the conclusion is es IMG:content-1111.png:[blocks in formation] 3. A reasoning; the proce by which the connection between that which is or is supposed to be admitted and that which is doubted or supposed to need confirmation is traced or tested. In matters of wrong arguments do confound sense, when in explanation of right they do sensibly approve it. Ford, Honour Triumphant, ii. The probability which she easily perceives in things thus in their native state would be quite lost if this argu ment were managed learnedly and proposed in mood and figure. Locke . We do not know God by argument, by reading books of evidences or books of theology: we know him just as we know the external world, - by experience. J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 162. 4. An addre or composition made for the purpose of producing belief or conviction by reasoning or persuasion.-5. A series of argumentations for and against a proposition; a debate. -6. The subject-matter or groundwork of a discourse or writing; specifically, an abstract or summary of the chief points in a book or section of a book: as, the arguments prefixed to the several books of "Paradise Lost" were an afterthought. That the whole argument fall within compa of a day's busine . B. Jonson, Ind. to Every Man out of his Humour. The abstract or argument of the piece is shortly as follows. Jeffrey. 7t. Matter of contention, controversy, or conversation. And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument . Shak., Hen. V., iii. 1. It would be argument for a week, laughter for a month, and a good jest forever. Shak., 1 Hen. IV., ii. 2. The remembrance of this small vexation Will be an argument of mirth for ever. Fletcher, Rule a Wife, iii. 2, arguitive (är-gu'i-tiv), a . of arguere , argue (see argue ), + -ive.] Having the character or form of an argument. [Rare.] - Arguitive descent. See descent , 13.