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To fight like gladiators; to contend fiercely; to dispute violently. [Obs.] Digladiating like Æschines and Demosthenes. Hales.

Controversy; disputation; discussion. [Archaic] Verbose janglings and endless disceptations. Strype.

To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain." Tennyson. "To discuss questions of taste." Macaulay.

The act of discussing or exchanging reasons; examination by argument; debate; disputation; agitation. The liberty of discussion is the great safeguard of all other liberties. Macaulay. Discussion of a problem or an equation (Math.), the operation of assigning different reasonable values to the arbitrary quantities and…

ship and union; strife; discord; quarrel. Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them. Acts xv. 2. Debates, dissension, uproars are thy joy. Dryden. A seditious person and raiser-up of dissension among the people. Robynson (More's Utopia).

ho separates from the service and worship of an established church; especially, one who disputes the authority or tenets of the Church of England; a nonconformist. Dissenters from the establishment of their several countries. Burke. Robert Brown is said to have the first formal dissenter. Shipley.

To discourse or dispute; to discuss. [R.] We have disserted upon it a little longer than was necessary. Jeffrey.

cially in moral and religious knowledge; to teach. It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public. Gibbon.

To dispute. [R.] B. Jonson.

The agency by which the law excludes evidence to dispute certain admissions, which the policy of the law treats as indisputable. Wharton. Stephen. Burrill.

. -- Ex parte council, one that assembles at the request of only one of the parties in dispute. -- Ex parte hearing or evidence (Law), that which is had or taken by one side or party in the absence of the other. Hearings before grand juries, and affidavits, are ex parte. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.…

Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc. They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and their sides are batDryden. As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I fenced A little ceased, but recommenced. Tennyson.…

Disputing or debating in a manner resembling the art of fencers. Shak.

Any like assumption made for convenience, as for passing more rapidly over what is not disputed, and arriving at points really at issue.

A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of terminating a matter in dispute; especially, a payment of money imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.

A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]

Strife; dispute; abusive or upbraiding talk, as in fliting; wrangling. [Obs. or Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

eedings, or in public discussions; argumentative; rhetorical; as, forensic eloquence or disputes. Forensic medicine, medical jurisprudence; medicine in its relations to law.

To contradict; to deny; to controvert; to dispute; to forbid. I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Luke xxi. 15. The just gods gainsay That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother, My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword Be drained. Shak.…

A top or whirligig; any little thing that is whirled round in play. Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gig. Shak.