DEBATES

Noun

debates

plural of debate

Verb

debates

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of debate

Anagrams

• beasted, bed teas, bed-teas, bestead

Source: Wiktionary


DEBATE

De*bate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] Etym: [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.

De*bate", 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.

De*bate", n. Etym: [F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, v. t.]

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

18 April 2025

GROIN

(noun) the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals


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