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con. Pro and con, for and against, on the affirmative and on the negative side; as, they debated the question pro and con; -- formerly used also as a verb. -- Pros and cons, the arguments or reasons on either side.

ng the termination of a thing; prolongation; continuance; delay; as, the protraction of a debate. A protraction only of what is worst in life. Mallock.

shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant. Lev. xxvi. 25. On open seas their quarrels they debate. Dryden.

To ask questions; to make inquiry. Each prompt to query, answer, and debate. Pope.

Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. John iii. 25. It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply…

To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend. When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory. T. Burnet.

A sketch, or a fully written account, of a speech, debate, or the proceedings of a public meeting, legislative body, etc.

rson who makees authorized statements of law proceedings and decisions, or of legislative debates. (b) One who reports speeches, the proceedings of public meetings, news, etc., for the newspapers. Of our tales judge and reportour. Chaucer.

y; to repose without anxiety; as, to rest on a man's promise. On him I rested, after long debate, And not without considering, fixed Dryden.

up all that had been done from the beginning of the rebellion. Clarendon. For brethern to debate and rip up their falling out in the ear of a common enemy . . . is neither wise nor comely. Milton.

wn; as, to seat one's self. The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate. Arbuthnot.

presides over, or speaks for, a delibrative assembly, preserving order and regulating the debates; as, the Speaker of the House of Commons, originally, the mouthpiece of the House to address the king; the Speaker of a House of Representatives.

Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.

To debate peevishly; to dispute. The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative. I. Watts.

utter sarcatic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little debate. [Colloq.]

To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot. Stir not questions of jurisdiction. Bacon.

to continue; to maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a debate.

; turbulent; violent; stormy; as, tempestuous weather; a tempestuous night; a tempestuous debate. -- Tem*pes"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Tem*pes"tu*ous*ness, n. They saw the Hebrew leader, Waiting, and clutching his tempestuous beard. Longfellow.

Severe; violent; as, a tough storm. [Colloq.] " A tough debate. " Fuller. To make it tough, to make it a matter of difficulty; to make it a hard matter. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To perform in tournaments; to tilt. Well could he tourney, and in lists debate. Spenser.