Part 353

Ar*gil"lous (&?;), a. [L. argillosus, fr. argilla. See Argil.] Argillaceous; clayey. Sir T. Browne.

Ar"give (&?;), a. [L. Argivus, fr. Argos, Argi.] Of or performance to Argos, the capital of Argolis in Greece. -- n. A native of Argos. Often used as a generic term, equivalent to Grecian or Greek.

||Ar"go (&?;), n. [L. Argo, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Myth.) The name of the ship which carried Jason and his fifty-four companions to Colchis, in quest of the Golden Fleece.

2. (Astron.) A large constellation in the southern hemisphere, called also Argo Navis. In modern astronomy it is replaced by its three divisions, Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

Ar*go"an (&?;), a. Pertaining to the ship Argo.

Ar"goile (&?;), n. Potter's clay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ar"gol (&?;), n. [Cf. Argal, Orgal. Of unknown origin.] Crude tartar; an acidulous salt from which cream of tartar is prepared. It exists in the juice of grapes, and is deposited from wines on the sides of the casks. Ure.

Ar*gol"ic (&?;), a. [L. Argolicus, Gr. &?;.] Pertaining to Argolis, a district in the Peloponnesus.

Ar"gon (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; inactive.] (Chem.) A substance regarded as an element, contained in the atmosphere and remarkable for its chemical inertness. Rayleigh and Ramsay.

Ar"go*naut (&?;), n. [L. Argonauta, Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; sailor, &?; ship. See Argo.] 1. Any one of the legendary Greek heroes who sailed with Jason, in the Argo, in quest of the Golden Fleece.

2. (Zoöl.) A cephalopod of the genus Argonauta.

||Ar`go*nau"ta (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A genus of Cephalopoda. The shell is called paper nautilus or paper sailor.

The animal has much resemblance to an Octopus. It has eight arms, two of which are expanded at the end and clasp the shell, but are never elevated in the air for sails as was formerly supposed. The creature swims beneath the surface by means of a jet of water, like other cephalopods. The male has no shell, and is much smaller than the female. See Hectocotylus.

Ar"go*naut"ic (&?;), a. [L. Argonauticus.] Of or pertaining to the Argonauts.

Ar"go*sy (&?;), n.; pl. Argosies (&?;). [Earlier ragusy, fr. ragusa meaning orig. a vessel of Ragusa.] A large ship, esp. a merchant vessel of the largest size.

Where your argosies with portly sail . . . Do overpeer the petty traffickers. Shak.

||Ar`got" (&?;), n. [F. Of unknown origin.] A secret language or conventional slang peculiar to thieves, tramps, and vagabonds; flash.

Ar"gu*a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being argued; admitting of debate.

Ar"gue (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Argued (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Arguing.] [OE. arguen, F. arguer, fr. L. argutare, freq. of arguere to make clear; from the same root as E. argent.] 1. To invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason.

I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will. Milton.

2. To contend in argument; to dispute; to reason; - - followed by with; as, you may argue with your friend without convincing him.

Ar"gue, v. t. 1. To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued.

2. To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference, deduction, or reasoning.

So many laws argue so many sins. Milton.

3. To persuade by reasons; as, to argue a man into a different opinion.

4. To blame; to accuse; to charge with. [Obs.]

Thoughts and expressions . . . which can be truly argued of obscenity, profaneness, or immorality. Dryden.

Syn. -- to reason; evince; discuss; debate; expostulate; remonstrate; controvert. -- To Argue, Dispute, Debate. These words, as here compared, suppose a contest between two parties in respect to some point at issue. To argue is to adduce arguments or reasons in support of one's cause or position. To dispute is to call in question or deny the statements or arguments of the opposing party. To debate is to strive for or against in a somewhat formal manner by arguments.