v. 4–; also 4 arguwe, 5 argwe, 6 argoue, argew. [a. OF. argue-r:—L. argūtāre, freq. of argu-ĕre to make clear, prove, assert, accuse, blame; of which latter Fr. arguer and Eng. argue are now taken as the equivalents.]
I. To bring evidence, convict, prove, indicate.
† 1. To make good an accusation against, prove wrong or guilty, convict. Const. of Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 31. Þat þe prest be miȝti to … argu hem þat aȝen seyn þe feiþ.
1576. Woolton, Chr. Manual (1851), 8. [They] dissent from themselves, and with their life argue their tongue of untruth.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), John viii. 46. Which of you shal argue me of sinne.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 171/2. He, not to argue him of Perjury, affirmed, that [etc.].
† 2. trans. To accuse, impeach, arraign, find fault with, call in question. Const. of. Obs.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. vi. 79. And argwyd hym rycht scharply.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. vi. 173. Not ȝou, nor ȝit the kyng … Will I argew of this maneir offens.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., 127. Nor would we argue the definitive sentence of God.
1692. Ray, Disc., II. v. (1732), 213. Erroneously argues Hubert Thomas … of a mistake.
3. To prove or evince; to afford good ground for inferring, show weighty reasons for supposing; to betoken, indicate. (Passing from prove in early use to evidence or imply in modern use.) a. a person or thing to be so-and-so.
1494. Fabyan, VI. clxxxiv. 182. But that proueth nat or argueth hym to be the firste.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. ii. 25. Which argued thee a most vnlouing Father.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 831. Not to know mee argues your selves unknown.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), App. 8. Which seem to argue it to be ancient.
1877. L. Morris, Epic Hades, I. 55. The gems which argued her a Queen.
b. that it is.
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 178. That we are delivered … argueth that we once were in their hands.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. xxvi. (1647), 214. The speedy withering of their religion argueth it wanted root.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxi. § 54. Contrary choices that Men make in the World, do not argue that they do not all pursue Good.
c. with simple object.
1538. Starkey, England, 74. Thys rudeness and barrennes of the ground arguth … neclygent idulnes.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. iii. 30. So bad a death, argues a monstrous life.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. iv. 60. Such purulent spittle argues exulcerated lungs.
1702. Eng. Theophrast., 181. Imitation argues esteem, a desire of equality argues envy.
1879. Maclear, Celts, xi. 181. Nor … did the use of this material argue poverty.
II. To bring reasons, to reason, dispute.
4. intr. To bring forward reasons concerning a matter in debate; to make statements or adduce facts for the purpose of establishing or refuting a proposition; to discuss; to reason.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6436. He [the executor] argueþ vpon þys skylle And byt þe dede answere þartylle.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XII. 122. Aristotle and oþere to arguen ich tauhte.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, II. lxiv. (1859), 59. Now arguest thou folyly; for thy reson is more to my purpos than it is to thyne.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xxvi. 76. He argued in himselfe, and was full of malencoly.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 54. His philosophy and faculty of arguing.
1855. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), I. 442. He would argue by the hour, but never for arguing sake.
b. Hence, To reason in opposition, raise objections, contend, dispute.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XVII. 115. Quath Actyf þo al angryliche and argueynge as hit were, ‘What is pouerte pacient?’
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. ii. § 1. More ready to argue than to obey.
1713. Steele, Guard., No. 17, ¶ 7. The virgin argued no longer.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 63. ‘Confound it, sir, don’t stay arguing, but go and order my horse.’
c. Const., with (in general sense), against (in direct opposition to the position of), an opponent; for or against a proposition; about (of obs.) a matter under discussion.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 645. She gan in her herte argue Of this matere.
c. 1430. Babees Bk., 11. Argue not aȝen þat.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 139. Better … to holde his peas than to contrarye and argue with a foole.
1535. Coverdale, Job xxxvi. 4. The knowlege wherwithall I argue agaynst the.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 562. Of good and evil much they argu’d then.
1710. Lady Montague, Lett., lxvii. 111. I am not … arguing for an equality of the two sexes.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 118, ¶ 3. I’d give ten Pounds to hear her argue with my Friend … about Trade.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 13. They argue against a fair discussion of popular prejudices.
1795. Southey, Maid of Orl., III. 33. And argue thence of kingdoms overthrown, And desolated nations.
1847. [see 8].
5. trans. To bring forward the reasons for or against (a proposition, etc.); to discuss the pros and cons of; to treat by reasoning, examine controversially.
1494. Fabyan, V. xcix. 72. The sayd causes warre well and sufficiently argued.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. i. 168. Wee are too open heere to argue this.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 27. I laid it all before them again, arguing every part of it … clearly.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., V. § 34. If our tenets are absurd, we allow them to be freely argued.
1883. Mrq. Salisbury, Sp. in Parl., 17 July. I do not see that it is my business to argue the legal considerations adverted to.
6. With subord. cl. To maintain, by adducing reasons, the proposition or opinion that.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 90. In consideration wherof he argueth, yf Christ shuld be often offered, nedes must he oft suffer.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 101 a. Peradventure some will argue … yt he shall have no writ.
1711. Spect., No. 2, ¶ 3. He will often argue that if this Part of our Trade were well cultivated, we should gain.
1847. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., iii. 24. He is arguing with the Jews, that the Messiah … was already come.
7. trans. To bring forward as a reason (for or against), to use as an argument. arch.
1626. Shirley, Brothers, III. i. What can she argue to thy birth or person?
1722. De Foe, Hist. Plague (1754), 11. He told me the same thing, which I argued for my staying … was the strongest Repulse to my Pretensions.
8. To argue (a thing) away, off, etc.: to get rid of by argument.
1713. Guardian, No. 60. Which … have clearly argued that animal out of the creation.
1719. Young, Revenge, I. 1. We call on wit to argue it away.
1865. D’A. Thompson, Odds and Ends. Men … would argue a dog’s tail off.
9. To argue (a person) into or out of: to persuade him by argument into, or out of, a course of action, an opinion or intention.
1685. Congreve, Old Bachel., Ded. (J.). A sort of poetical logick … to argue you into a protection of this play.
Mod. He was argued out of his opposition.
