Argument, n.
Etymology: [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 more senses
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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Argument, v. i.
To make an argument; to argue. [Obs.] Gower.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for argument; he lists it under reason, reasoning.
Where he writes about it:
In the statement of any reasoning, the argument may be an entire syllogism, or the premises considered together apart from the conclusion, or in logical strictness the middle term only by which the particular conclusion is connected with the general statement. — from reason
But when the reasoning is not in strict logical form, the middle term following the conclusion is called the reason; thus in the statement "All tyrants deserve death; Caesar was a tyrant; Therefore Caesar deserved death," "Caesar was a tyrant" would in the strictest sense be called the argument; but if we say "Caesar deserved death because he was a tyrant," the latter clause would be termed the reason. — from reason
Argumentation and debate, in the ordinary use of the words, suppose two parties alleging reasons for and against a proposition; the same idea appears figuratively when we speak of a debate or an argument with oneself, or of a debate between reason and conscience. — from reasoning
Argument or argumentation was formerly used of deductive reasoning only. — from reasoning
With the rise of the inductive philosophy these words have come to be applied to inductive processes also; but while reasoning may be informal or even (as far as tracing its processes is concerned) unconscious, argument and argumentation strictly imply logical form. — from reasoning
Reasoning, as denoting a process, is a broader term than reason or argument; many arguments or reasons may be included in a single chain of reasoning. — from reasoning