1. The act of forming reasons, making inductions, drawing conclusions, and applying them to the case
in discussion; the operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles
known, admitted, or proved to be true.
Which manner of argumentation, how false and naught it is, . . . every man that hath with perceiveth.
Tyndale.
2. Debate; discussion.
Syn. — Reasoning; discussion; controversy. See Reasoning.
Argumentative
(Ar`gu*men"ta*tive) a.
1. Consisting of, or characterized by, argument; containing a process of reasoning; as, an argumentative
discourse.
2. Adductive as proof; indicative; as, the adaptation of things to their uses is argumentative of infinite
wisdom in the Creator. [Obs.]
3. Given to argument; characterized by argument; disputatious; as, an argumentative writer.
—Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ly, adv. — Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ness, n.
Argumentize
(Ar"gu*men*tize) v. i. To argue or discuss. [Obs.] Wood.
Argus
(||Ar"gus) n. [L. Argus, Gr. .]
1. (Myth.) A fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a hundred eyes, who has placed by Juno to
guard Io. His eyes were transplanted to the peacock's tail.
2. One very vigilant; a guardian always watchful.
3. (Zoöl.) A genus of East Indian pheasants. The common species (A. giganteus) is remarkable for
the great length and beauty of the wing and tail feathers of the male. The species A. Grayi inhabits
Borneo.
Argus-eyed
(Ar"gus-eyed) a. Extremely observant; watchful; sharp-sighted.
Argus shell
(Ar"gus shell`) . (Zoöl.) A species of shell beautifully variegated with spots resembling those
in a peacock's tail.
Argutation
(Ar`gu*ta"tion) n. [L. argutatio. See Argue.] Caviling; subtle disputation. [Obs.]
Argute
(Ar*gute") a. [L. argutus, p. p. of arguere. See Argue.]
1. Sharp; shrill. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. Sagacious; acute; subtle; shrewd.
The active preacher . . . the argue schoolman.
Milman.
Argutely
(Ar*gute"ly), adv. In a subtle; shrewdly.
Arguteness
(Ar*gute"ness), n. Acuteness. Dryden.
Arhizal
(A*rhi"zal A*rhi"zous) Arhythmic
(A*rhyth"mic A*rhyth"mous) a. See Arrhizal, Arrhizous, Arrhythmic,
Arrhythmous.
