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debate

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debate

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debate  \De*bate"\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  engage  in  strife  or  combat;  to  fight.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  Well  could  he  tourney  and  in  lists  debate. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  To  contend  in  words  to  dispute;  hence  to  deliberate;  to 
  consider;  to  discuss  or  examine  different  arguments  in  the 
  mind;  --  often  followed  by  on  or  upon 
 
  He  presents  that  great  soul  debating  upon  the 
  subject  of  life  and  death  with  his  intimate  friends. 
  --Tatler. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debate  \De*bate"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Debated};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Debating}.]  [OF.  debatre,  F.  d['e]battre;  L.  de  +  batuere 
  to  beat  See  {Batter},  v.  t.,  and  cf  {Abate}.] 
  1.  To  engage  in  combat  for  to  strive  for 
 
  Volunteers  .  .  .  thronged  to  serve  under  his  banner, 
  and  the  cause  of  religion  was  debated  with  the  same 
  ardor  in  Spain  as  on  the  plains  of  Palestine. 
  --Prescott. 
 
  2.  To  contend  for  in  words  or  arguments;  to  strive  to 
  maintain  by  reasoning;  to  dispute;  to  contest;  to  discuss; 
  to  argue  for  and  against. 
 
  A  wise  council  .  .  .  that  did  debate  this  business. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Debate  thy  cause  with  thy  neighbor  himself.  --Prov. 
  xxv.  9. 
 
  Syn:  To  argue;  discuss;  dispute;  controvert.  See  {Argue},  and 
  {Discuss}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Debate  \De*bate"\,  n.  [F.  d['e]bat,  fr  d['e]battre.  See 
  {Debate},  v.  t.] 
  1.  A  fight  or  fighting;  contest;  strife.  [Archaic] 
 
  On  the  day  of  the  Trinity  next  ensuing  was  a  great 
  debate  .  .  .  and  in  that  murder  there  were  slain  .  . 
  .  fourscore.  --R.  of 
  Gloucester. 
 
  But  question  fierce  and  proud  reply  Gave  signal  soon 
  of  dire  debate.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  2.  Contention  in  words  or  arguments;  discussion  for  the 
  purpose  of  elucidating  truth  or  influencing  action  strife 
  in  argument;  controversy;  as  the  debates  in  Parliament  or 
  in  Congress. 
 
  Heard,  noted,  answer'd,  as  in  full  debate.  --Pope. 
 
  3.  Subject  of  discussion.  [R.] 
 
  Statutes  and  edicts  concerning  this  debate. 
  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  debate 
  n  1:  a  discussion  in  which  reasons  are  advanced  for  and  against 
  some  proposition  or  proposal;  "the  argument  over  foreign 
  aid  goes  on  and  on"  [syn:  {argument}] 
  2:  the  formal  presentation  of  and  opposition  to  a  stated 
  proposition  (usually  followed  by  a  vote)  [syn:  {disputation}, 
  {public  debate}] 
  v  1:  argue  with  one  another;  "We  debated  the  question  of 
  abortion";  "John  debated  Mary" 
  2:  think  about  carefully;  weigh;  "They  considered  the 
  possibility  of  a  strike"  [syn:  {consider},  {moot},  {turn 
  over},  {deliberate}] 
  3:  discuss  the  pros  and  cons  of  an  issue  [syn:  {deliberate}] 
  4:  have  an  argument  about  something  [syn:  {argue},  {contend},  {fence}]




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