Search for: argument
6001 Etymology dictionary, p. flare-up (n.).2
"a sudden burst," 1827 of an argument; 1858 of light, from verbal phrase; see flare (v.) + up (adv.). It seems to have had some vogue as a street expression in London in the 1830s.
6002 Etymology dictionary, p. flimsy (adj.).2
1702, of unknown origin, perhaps a metathesis of film (n.) "gauzy covering" + -y (2). For the insertion of -s-, compare limpsy. Figuratively (of arguments, etc.) from 1750s. Related: Flimsily; flimsiness .
6003 Etymology dictionary, p. frivolous (adj.).2
… no argument to show its weakness." Related: Frivolously; frivolousness .
6004 Etymology dictionary, p. go-round (n.).2
"act of going round," originally especially "a merry-go-round," 1886, from go (v.) + round (adv.). Figurative sense of "argument, bout, fight," etc. is from 1891.
6005 Etymology dictionary, p. ground (v.).2
… " (an argument, sermon, etc.), from ground (n.). Meaning "instruct thoroughly in the basics" is from late 14c. Of ships, "to run into the ground," from mid-15c. (intransitive …
6006 Etymology dictionary, p. horn (n.).3
… , chief argument; wing, flank; power, courage, strength." Horn of plenty is from 1580s. To make horns at "hold up the fist with the two exterior fingers extended" as …
6007 Etymology dictionary, p. hypothesis (n.).2
… an argument, supposition," literally "a placing under," from hypo- "under" (see hypo- ) + thesis "a placing, proposition" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put …
6008 Etymology dictionary, p. impugn (v.).2
… by argument," late 14c., from Old French impugner (14c.), from Latin impugnare "to fight against, assault, attack," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE …
6009 Etymology dictionary, p. impune (adj.).2
"unpunished" (obsolete), 1610s, from Latin impunis "unpunished" (see impunity ). For the word meaning "attack by argument," see impugn .
6010 Etymology dictionary, p. indefensible (adj.).2
1520s, "that cannot be maintained or justified by argument," from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + defensible. From 1560s as "that cannot be maintained by force." Related: Indefensibly .
6011 Etymology dictionary, p. inexpugnable (adj.).2
… to arguments, etc., is from 1530s.
6012 Etymology dictionary, p. labyrinth (n.).2
… "bewildering arguments," from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos "maze, large building with intricate passages," especially the structure built by …
6013 Etymology dictionary, p. lemma (n.).2
… ; an argument; something taken for granted," from root of lambanein "to take," from PIE root *(s)lagw- "to seize, take" (source also of Sanskrit labhate, rabhate "seizes …
6014 Etymology dictionary, p. logic (n.).2
… "logical argumentation" is from c. 1600. Contemptuous logic-chopper "sophist, person who uses subtle distinctions in argument" is from 1846.
6015 Etymology dictionary, p. maintain (v.).3
… by argument or assertion" is from mid-14c. Meaning "practice habitually" is from c. 1400. Sense of "furnish means for the subsistence or existence of" is from c. 1400 …
6016 Etymology dictionary, p. misology (n.).2
"hatred of reason or knowledge," 1819; see miso- + -logy. Related: Misologist; misologue; misologistic. Greek misologia meant "hatred of argument."
6017 Etymology dictionary, p. motive (n.).2
… , or argument" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French motif "will, drive, motivation," noun use of adjective, literally "moving," from Medieval Latin motivus "moving …
6018 Etymology dictionary, p. murmur (n.).2
… ; trouble, argument" (12c.), noun of action from murmurer "to murmur," from Latin murmurare "to murmur, mutter," from murmur (n.) "a hum, muttering, rushing," probably from a …
6019 Etymology dictionary, p. nail (n.).3
… an argument," and smiten the nail on the hed was "tell the exact truth" (mid-15c.). Phrase on the nail "on the spot, exactly" is from 1590s, of obscure origin; OED says it …
6020 Etymology dictionary, p. object (v.).2
… an argument against (a proposition, line of reasoning, etc.)," from Old French objecter and directly from Latin obiectus, past participle of obiectare "to cite …