Debate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.]
Etymology: [OF. debatre, F. débattre; 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.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Debate, 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.
Debate, n.
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for debate; he lists it under deliberate, reason, reasoning.
Where he writes about it:
An individual considers, meditates, ponders, reflects, by himself; he weighs a matter in his own mind, and is sometimes said even to debate with himself. — from deliberate
Consult and confer always imply two or more persons, as does debate, unless expressly limited as above. — from deliberate
Debate implies opposing views; deliberate, simply a gathering and balancing of all facts and reasons. — from deliberate
Reason is a neutral word, not, like argue, debate, discuss, etc., naturally or necessarily implying contest. — from reason
A dispute may be personal, fractious, and petty; a debate is formal and orderly; if otherwise, it becomes a mere wrangle. — 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