a. [a. F. argumentatif, -ive, f. L. argūmentāt- (see ARGUMENTATE) + -IVE, as if ad. L. *argūmentātīvus.]
† 1. Of the nature of an argument (for); of weight as evidence (of). Obs.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., 35. Even this is argumentative for us.
1661. Refl. Oathes of Suprem. & Alleg., 41. Their silence in this point … is surely very argumentative.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 113. If Pliny, a heathen, could make this fertility of wheat argumentative of the bounty of God to Man.
2. Of, pertaining to, or characterized by argument; controversial; logical.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., I. ix. 115. To vent their opinions in argumentative way.
1828. Macaulay, Hallam, Ess. (1851), I. 52. Hallam [gives us] a critical and argumentative history.
1861. Stanley, East. Ch., vii. (1869), 245. The close argumentative style of his writings.
3. Given or addicted to argumentation; capable or fond of arguing.
1667. Dryden, Ind. Emp., Pref. (1668), 16. It is not out of any design to play the Argumentative Poet.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxxiii. II. 257. He possessed a strong, capacious, argumentative mind.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 4. The argumentative Mr. Macey … shook his head.
