verb. (colloquial).—1. To argue; to worry; to wrangle. Whence (2) to signify; to prove of consequence; to follow as a result of argument. ARGUFIER = a contentious talker. See ARG and ARGLE.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, lxxviii. Howsomever, that don’t ARGUFY in reverence of his being in a hurry. Ibid. (1771), The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, 797. Would you go for to offer for to ARGUEFY me out of my senses.
1758. A. MURPHY, The Upholsterer, i. Well, it does not signify ARGIFYING.
d. 1763. SHENSTONE, To a Friend.
| I’ve done (she mutter’d), I was saying | |
| It did not ARGUFY my playing; | |
| Some folks will win, they can not choose, | |
| But, think or not think, some must lose. |
1795. BURNEY, Diary, 9 June, vi. 41. But what ARGUFIES all this festivity? ’tis all vanity and exhalation of spirit.
1800. EDGEWORTH, The Will, ii. I can’t stand ARGUFYING here about charity.
c. 1800. DIBDIN, Poor Jack, iii. What ARGUFIES sniv’ling and piping your eye.
1820. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, II. v.
| I have no learning, no, not I, | |
| Nor do pretend to ARGUFY. |
1837. BULWER-LYTTON, Maltravers, IV. vii. I should like to have you on the roadside instead of within these four gimcrack walls … the ARGUFYING would be all in my favour then.
1855. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Nature and Human Nature. I listen to a preacher, and try to be better for his ARGUFYING.
1862. J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers, II. 15. It ain’t no use to ARGERFY nor try to cut up frisky.
d. 1864. LEECH, Cartoon. Do you want to ARGIFY, you little beggar?
1865. The Saturday Review, 12 Aug., 197. 2. People who are always ARGUEFYING are the … worst of bores.
1876. W. BLACK, Madcap Violet, vii. I am thwarted, crushed, ARGUFIED at every turn.
1881. W. C. RUSSELL, A Sailor’s Sweetheart, i. I have noticed that your people who are pretty well agreed are always the fiercest ARGUFIERS.
