argue

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: Argue, argué, argüé, and argüe

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse), q.v. for more. Displaced native Old English flītan and reċċan.

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

argue (third-person singular simple present argues, present participle arguing, simple past and past participle argued)

  1. To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
    • 1910, Saki [pseudonym; Hector Hugh Munro], “The Soul of Laploshka”, in Reginald in Russia and Other Sketches, London: Methuen & Co. [], →OCLC, page 69:
      To have killed Laploshka was one thing; to have kept his beloved money would have argued a callousness of feeling of which I was not capable.
  2. (intransitive) To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints.
    He also argued for stronger methods to be used against China.
    He argued as follows: America should stop Lend-Lease convoying, because it needs to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
    The two boys argued over a disagreement about the science project.
    • 2022 October 28, Charles Hugh Smith, What Does Liberation Mean in the Real World?[1]:
      There is no arguing with true believers in any ideology or arrangement in which the self-interest of those in power is the organizing principle of the system.
  3. (intransitive) To have an argument, a quarrel.
  4. (transitive) To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
    He argued his point.
    He argued that America should stop Lend-Lease convoying because it needed to fortify its own Army with the supplies.
    • 2018, Kristin Lawless, Formerly known as food, →ISBN, page 192:
      Food manufacturers would argue that food additives and chemical-laden packaging extend shelf life, keep food production costs down, and enhance flavors; chemical manufacturers would argue that their various pesticides and herbicides protect crops and help farmers.
  5. (obsolete, transitive) To prove.
  6. (obsolete, transitive) To accuse.

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin *arganum (capstan), variation of organum (instrument, tool).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

argue m (plural argues)

  1. winch, windlass

Related terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Chinese[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English argue. Doublet of 拗撬 (aau3 giu6).

Pronunciation[edit]


Verb[edit]

argue

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) to argue
    • 唔敢argue [Cantonese, trad. and simp.]
      From: 2021, Adrian Blackledge and Angela Creese, Recontextualisation and advocacy in the translation zone, Text & Talk, volume 41, number 1, page 14
      ngo5 m4 gam2 tung4 keoi5 aa1 giu4 gaa3 [Jyutping]
      I don't dare argue with him

References[edit]

French[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

argue

  1. inflection of arguer:
    1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

Anagrams[edit]

Latin[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

argue

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of arguō