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To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue. The question which our author would contend for. Locke. Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Dr. H. More.

To plead orally; to argue a matter in court; to recite a count. Burrill.

or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against. A wise council . . . that did debate this business. Shak. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. Prov. xxv. 9.

One who disputes; one who argues A singularly eager, acute, and pertinacious disputant. Macaulay.

To contend in argument; to argue against something maintained, upheld, or claimed, by another; to discuss; to reason; to debate; to altercate; to wrangle. Therefore disputed [reasoned, Rev. Ver .] he in synagogue with the Jews. Acts xvii. 17.

lity of the mind. For the celestial bodies, the equability and constancy of their motions argue them ordained by wisdom. Ray.

- Herb grace, or Herb of grace. (Bot.) See Rue. -- Herb Margaret (Bot.), the daisy. See Marguerite. -- Herb Paris (Bot.), an Old World plant related to the trillium (Paris quadrifolia), commonly reputed poisonous. -- Herb Robert (Bot.), a species of Geranium (G. Robertianum.)

The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, esp. of mind. Cruelty . . . argues not only a depravedness of nature, but also a meanness of courage and imbecility of mind. Sir W. Temple.

the power of thinking; thoughtlessness; unreasonableness. 'T is folly and incogitancy to argue anything, one way or the other, from the designs of a sort of beings with whom we so little communicate. Glanvill.

ontrary to established customs, manners, or rites. Bacon. The love of things ancient doth argue stayedness, but levity and want of experience maketh apt unto innovations. Hooker.

By means of an instrument or agency; as means to an end. South. They will argue that the end being essentially beneficial, the means become instrumentally so. Burke.

ization. He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Cor. v. 21. Not to know me argues yourselves unknown. Milton.

In a logical manner; as, to argue logically.

ount of ugliness, viciousness, or wickedness; hateful; horrible; dreadful. So bad a death argues a monstrous life. Shak.

To argue for and against; to debate; to discuss; to propose for discussion. A problem which hardly has been mentioned, much less mooted, in this country. Sir W. Hamilton.

One who argued moot cases in the inns of court.

To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to pettifog a claim. [Colloq.]

Reasoning; argumentation. Of good and evil much they argued then, . . . Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.

To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against a thing; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; to speak by way of persuasion; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead with a judge or with a father. O that one might plead for a man wit…

One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate. So fair a pleader any cause may gain. Dryden.