argument
UK /ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/ · US /ˈɑɹɡjʊmənt/ noun, verb
Forms arguments argumenting argumented argumentest argumentedst argumenteth arguement
- noun (countable, also figuratively) A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.
- noun (logic, philosophy) A series of propositions organized so that the final proposition is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding propositions, which function as premises.
- noun (countable) A process of reasoning; argumentation.
- noun (countable) An abstract or summary of the content of a literary work such as a book, a poem or a major section such as a chapter, included in the work before the content itself; (figuratively) the contents themselves.
- noun (countable) A verbal dispute; a quarrel. “The neighbours got into an argument about the branches of the trees that extended over the fence.”
- noun (by extension, humorous or euphemistic) Any dispute, altercation, or collision. “Steve got in a physical argument with his neighbor and came away with a black eye.”
- noun (countable, linguistics) Any of the phrases that bear a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.
- noun The independent variable of a function.
- verb (intransitive, obsolete, now nonstandard, non-native speakers' English) To put forward as an argument; to argue.
- verb (intransitive, obsolete) To adduce evidence, to provide proof.
Synonyms
argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute dissonance statement contestation disceptation tilt arguing argumentation literary argument parameter logical argument line of reasoning
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English argument, from Anglo-Norman and Old French arguement, from Latin argumentum. The English word is analysable as argue + -ment. Doublet of argumentum.
Displaced native Old English racu and ġeflit.
The obsolete senses are derived from Middle English argumenten (“to argue, discuss; to consider, reflect”), from Old French argumenter (“to argue”), from Latin argūmentārī (“to adduce arguments or proof, prove, reason; to adduce (something) as argument or proof; to conclude”), from argūmentum (“argument (for a position); evidence, proof; point, theme; thesis, topic; plot (in theatre)”) (see further at etymology 1) + -or (the first-person singular present passive indicative of -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)).
The current sense is derived from the noun.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Proof; evidence. [Obs.]
- noun A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.
- verb To make an argument; to argue. [Obs.] Gower.
Etymology [F. argument, L. argumentum, fr. arguere to argue.]
Etymology [L. argumentari.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “argument”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details