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argue

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Argue, argué, argüé, and argüe

English

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Etymology

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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

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Verb

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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.
    • 1997, Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali, The World Bank and Nigeria, page 10:
      Yusuf Bangura argues that the contractocracy thesis merely falls within what he called "third option" explanation.
  2. (intransitive) To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle.
    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.
    • 2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 9:45 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron‎[2], archived from the original on 29 November 2024:
      After his actions were challenged by foreign governments and Parliament initially tried to put a stop to his action, Denman returned home and argued his case with enough force that, by 1848, the Royal Navy was handed active permission and encouragement to raze every last slave factory they could find to the ground, and full authority to stop any ship, of any flag, that was thought to be a slaver, with a guarantee with[sic] no censure from the government.
  5. (obsolete, transitive) To prove.
  6. (obsolete, transitive) To accuse.

Derived terms

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Translations

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

Further reading

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Anagrams

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Catalan

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Noun

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argue m (plural argues)

  1. winch, windlass
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Further reading

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Chinese

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Verb

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argue

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) to argue
    • 我唔敢同佢argue架 [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

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French

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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argue

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

Anagrams

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Latin

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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argue

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of arguō
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