Part 355

Ar`gu*men"ta*tive (&?;), a. 1. Consisting of, or characterized by, argument; containing a process of reasoning; as, an argumentative discourse.

2. Adductive as proof; indicative; as, the adaptation of things to their uses is argumentative of infinite wisdom in the Creator. [Obs.]

3. Given to argument; characterized by argument; disputatious; as, an argumentative writer.

--Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ness, n.

Ar"gu*men*tize (&?;), v. i. To argue or discuss. [Obs.] Wood.

||Ar"gus (&?;), n. [L. Argus, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Myth.) A fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a hundred eyes, who has placed by Juno to guard Io. His eyes were transplanted to the peacock's tail.

2. One very vigilant; a guardian always watchful.

3. (Zoöl.) A genus of East Indian pheasants. The common species (A. giganteus) is remarkable for the great length and beauty of the wing and tail feathers of the male. The species A. Grayi inhabits Borneo.

Ar"gus-eyed (&?;), a. Extremely observant; watchful; sharp-sighted.

Ar"gus shell` (&?;) . (Zoöl.) A species of shell (Cypræa argus), beautifully variegated with spots resembling those in a peacock's tail.

Ar`gu*ta"tion (&?;), n. [L. argutatio. See Argue.] Caviling; subtle disputation. [Obs.]

Ar*gute" (&?;), a. [L. argutus, p. p. of arguere. See Argue.] 1. Sharp; shrill. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. Sagacious; acute; subtle; shrewd.

The active preacher . . . the argue schoolman. Milman.

Ar*gute"ly, adv. In a subtle; shrewdly.

Ar*gute"ness, n. Acuteness. Dryden.

A*rhi"zal (&?;), A*rhi"zous (&?;), A*rhyth"mic (&?;), A*rhyth"mous (&?;), a. See Arrhizal, Arrhizous, Arrhythmic, Arrhythmous.

||A"ri*a (&?;), n. [It., fr. L. aër. See Air.] (Mus.) An air or song; a melody; a tune.

The Italian term is now mostly used for the more elaborate accompanied melodies sung by a single voice, in operas, oratorios, cantatas, anthems, etc., and not so much for simple airs or tunes.

Ar"ian (&?;), a. & n. (Ethnol.) See Aryan.

A"ri*an (&?;), a. [L. Arianus.] Pertaining to Arius, a presbyter of the church of Alexandria, in the fourth century, or to the doctrines of Arius, who held Christ to be inferior to God the Father in nature and dignity, though the first and noblest of all created beings. -- n. One who adheres to or believes the doctrines of Arius. Mosheim.

A"ri*an*ism (&?;), n. The doctrines of the Arians.

A"ri*an*ize (&?;), v. i. To admit or accept the tenets of the Arians; to become an Arian.

A"ri*an*ize, v. t. To convert to Arianism.

Ar"i*cine (&?;), n. [From Arica, in Chile.] (Chem.) An alkaloid, first found in white cinchona bark.

Ar"id (&?;), a. [L. aridus, fr. arere to be dry: cf. F. aride.] Exhausted of moisture; parched with heat; dry; barren. "An arid waste." Thomson.

A*rid"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Aridities (&?;). [L. ariditas, fr. aridus.] 1. The state or quality of being arid or without moisture; dryness.

2. Fig.: Want of interest of feeling; insensibility; dryness of style or feeling; spiritual drought. Norris.