King James Bible Dictionary

'ARGUMENT, noun [Latin argumentum.]

1. A reason offered for or against a proposition, opinion, or measure; a reason offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; followed by for or against.

2. In logic, an inference drawn from premises, which are indisputable, or at least of probable truth.

3. The subject of a discourse or writing.

4. An abstract or summary of a book, or the heads of the subjects.

5. A debate or discussion; a series of reasoning; as, an argument was had before the court, in which argument all the reasons were urged.

6. In astronomy, an arch by which we seek another unknown arch, proportional to the first.

ARGUMENT'AL, adjective Belonging to argument; consisting in argument.

ARGUMENTA'TION, noun Reasoning; the act of reasoning; the act of inventing or 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.

ARGUMENT'ATIVE, adjective

1. Consisting of argument; containing a process of reasoning; as an argumentative discourse.

2. Showing reasons for; as, the adaptation of things to their uses is argumentative of infinite wisdom in the Creator.

ARGUMENT'ATIVELY, adverb In an argumentative manner.