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Belonging to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate; used in legal proceedings, or in public discussions; argumentative; rhetorical; as, forensic eloquence or disputes. Forensic medicine, medical jurisprudence; medicine in its relations to law.

A law or ruling prohibiting proper or free debate, as in closure. [Colloq. or Cant]

Not conclusive; leading to no conclusion; not closing or settling a point in debate, or a doubtful question; as, evidence is inconclusive when it does not exhibit the truth of a disputed case in such a manner as to satisfy the mind, and put an end to debate or doubt. Arguments . . . inconclusive and impertinent. South.…

r an explanation of his action; imperative or peremptory questioning; a point raised in a debate.

A point in debate or controversy on which the parties take affirmative and negative positions; a presentation of alternatives between which to choose or decide.

Clash of interest or opinions; collision; discord; debate; slight disagreement. And yet his peace is but continual jar. Spenser. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace. Shak.

contest in law; to prosecute or defend by pleadings, exhibition of evidence, and judicial debate in a court; as, to litigate a cause.

ed through a considerable tine, or to a great length; as, a long series of events; a long debate; a long drama; a long history; a long book.

resenting a clear view; easily understood; clear. A lucid and interesting abstract of the debate. Macaulay.

An association for debate and literary improvement.

ing nobleness of soul; honorable; noble; not selfish. Both strived for death; magnanimous debate. Stirling. There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity. Washington.

mory of anything; as, to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate.

To state wrongly; as, to misstate a question in debate. Bp. Sanderson.

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.

Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; -- chiefly in the phraze at odds. Set them into confounding odds. Shak. I can not speak Any beginning to this peevish odds. Shak. At odds, in dispute; at variance. "These squires at odds did fall." Spenser. "He flashes into one gross crime or other, that sets us all at odds." Shak. --…

The customary mode of procedure; established system, as in the conduct of debates or the transaction of business; usage; custom; fashion. Dantiel. And, pregnant with his grander thought, Brought the old order into doubt. Emerson.

Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate. This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers. Carlyle.

in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or other intellectual encounter.

rs; to take a part; to partake; -- followed by in, formely by of; as, to participate in a debate. Shak. So would he participateof their wants. Hayward. Mine may come when men With angels may participate. Milton.

Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final. Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to get thither. Jer. Taylor.