— 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 arguer 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.