Ar"gu*ment (ăr"g&usl;*ment),
v. i. [L. argumentari.]
To make an argument; to argue. [Obs.] Gower.
Ar"gu*ment (&?;), n. [F. argument, L. argumentum, fr. arguere to argue.]
1.
Proof; evidence. [Obs.]
There is.. no
more palpable and convincing argument
of the existence of a Deity.
Ray.
Why, then, is
it made a badge of wit
and an argument of parts for a man to commence atheist, and to cast off all belief of
providence, all awe and reverence for religion?
South.
2.
A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words;
as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor
of it, or
against it.
3. A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.
The argument is about things, but names.
Locke.
4. The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme
or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a
book, chapter, poem.
You
and love are still my
argument.
Shak.
The abstract or argument of the piece.
Jeffrey.
[Shields] with boastful argument portrayed.
Milton.
5. Matter for question; business in hand. [Obs.]
Sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
Shak.
6. (Astron.) The quantity on which another quantity in a
table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.
7. (Math.) The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends. Brande & C.
Hear it pronounced