Middle English Dictionary Entry
argūen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | argūen v. Also argewen. |
| Etymology | L arguere & OF arguer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To present reasons or arguments, to reason, argue, debate; also, to be contentious or disputatious; (b) to argue (that sth. is true, that sth. should be done); assert, claim; (c) to present (sth.) as an argument or reason; to argue (a case) in court; (d) ~ again(es, to argue against (sth.), dispute (an opinion); ~ to (with), to argue against (sb.), ~ for, to plead for (sb.) in court.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)106a/b : As Aristotel arguyþ..al corrupcioun..comeþ in contraries, & noþing is I-founde contrarie to heuen, wherfore heuen is nouȝt corrupt.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6435 : Þe executore..setteþ þus hys resun..And argueþ vp-on þys skylle.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.115 : Quath Actyf tho al angryliche and argueynge as hit were, 'What is pouerte pacient?'
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)11/12 : Ich argue in þe same maner, in honging of þeeues & of oþer mysdoers..is riȝtful & vnriȝtful.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.497 : O, where hastow ben hid so longe in muwe, That kanst so wel and formaly arguwe?
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)499 : In þilk whilis in which þo men so bisili studien, arguen, and answeren.
- c1450 ABCArist.(Lamb 853)260 : Ne argue not to myche.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)46a : Now arguest thu folyly, for thi reason is more to my purpoce than it is to thin.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4196 : Thus I mai argue That Pite is the foundement Of every kinges regiment.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)289 : Þe fend..argueþ þus, þat ȝif a rewme were purgid of errouris..þanne were þis rewme distryed.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)8b/a : Lechez forsoþ argueþ [*Ch.(2): arguen] þe hert for to be hote and drie.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3511 : Truthe..arguyth þat man schuld dwell in wo.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)25/17 : A man myȝt argue þat neiþir Crist neiþir þe apostle powle sawe so fer as þei schulde haue seen in assignyng tablis of goddis moral lawe.
c
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)12239 : He arguis suche þing þat I ne wate ende of þe be-gynning.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)131 : What is now argued and concludid is oonly wiþynne þe boundes of kynde.
- (1464) Paston (Gairdner)4.88 : The plee by twene Ogan and yow was sore argued in the Kynggs Bench by your counsell, in lettyng of the jugement, and to morwe have they day to argue ageyn.
d
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.4.21 : But now argueth Boece ayens that opynioun and seith thus.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)28 : Wel j see that to argue with yow j mihte not endure..But neuertheles if j durste, a litel yit j wolde argue to yow.
- c1450 ABCArist.(Lamb 853)p.260 : Lerne he oo lettir..Of þe a.b.c. of aristotil; argue not aȝen þat.
- (1464) Paston (Gairdner)4.88 : These argued for yow, Maisters Grenefeld..Starky, &c.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.45 : Some argued aȝein rith.
2.
To consider, reflect upon, ponder (sth.); to debate with oneself.
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.694 : So she gan in hire thought argue..what to doone best were, and what eschue.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.772 : This Diomede..Goth now withinne hymself ay arguynge..How he may best..Into his net Criseydes herte brynge.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)504 : He spak noght, But argued with his owne thoght, And in hys wyt disputed faste Why and how hys lyf myght laste.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)327/45 : Thus complened he to him self all the night and argued in his own thoght to and fro.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.27 : Thus in my mynd My folk I wold argewe, bot all for noght.
3.
To expound, make clear, teach.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Tim.3.16 : Al scripture of God ynspyrid is profitable to teche, to arguwe or proue [L ad arguendum], to reproue, for to lerne in riȝtwysnesse.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)11.130 : Plato þe Poyete, I put him furste to Boke; Aristotle and oþer mo to Arguen I tauȝte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1847 : A kinges myht, seith he, So as his reson can argue, Is strengest.
4.
To be evidence or an indication of (sth.).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)87b/a : Þe long lastyng of it [cancer] & perseuerance argueþ [L arguunt] þe malice & þe grete difficulte of it.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)453 : Þe blamyng of þis vnbileeue argueþ no grettir feiþ þan is afor seid.
5.
To argue against (sb.); accuse, reproach, blame; condemn.
Associated quotations
- c1410 3 Arrows Doomsday (UC 97)447 : Domine ne in furore, &c. [Ps.6]..ouercome me not with skiles in fynal conclusion, so þat i be not convict for euere..herfore i seye, Argue [L arguas] me not.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)13 : Thow..argudest wel Pharaon, seyinge him that he suffrede thi folk serue god with oute thraldom.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)27 : It is a gret pride and gret despyt..whan the pot wole argue the pottere and blame him.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)28 : Ye doon me despyt riht gret that ye gon thus arguinge me.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)31 : Poule seiþ..þat þe prest be miȝti to..argu hem þat aȝen seyn þe feiþ.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)62 : Þe Hooli Goost schal argu þis world of dome.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)6.1 : Lord, in thi wodnes argu [L arguas] me noght..Lord, in thi dome argu me noght, that is, sett noght swilk skilles agayns me that i be conuycte and worthi dampnacioun.