argumentum

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin argūmentum. Doublet of argument.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ärgyo͞omĕnʹtəm, IPA(key): /ɑːɡjuːˈmɛntəm/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ɑɹɡjuˈmɛntəm/
  • (Latinate) IPA(key): /ɑɹ.ɡuːˈmeɪn.tum/
  • Rhymes: -ɛntəm
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

argumentum (plural argumenta)

  1. (chiefly formal, in law, logic, etc.) Used in numerous Latin phrases (and occasionally alone) in the sense of “appeal” or “argument”.
    • 1682: Sir Edward Coke, Argumentum anti-Normannicum, main title (John Darby)
      Argumentum anti-Normannicum: or, An argument proving, from ancient histories and records, that William, Duke of Normandy, made no absolute conquest of England by the sword; in the sense of our modern writers.

Derived terms

Latin

Etymology

    From arguō (to prove or demonstrate) +‎ -mentum (instrument; medium; result of).

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    argūmentum n (genitive argūmentī); second declension

    1. argument (as in an argument for a position); evidence, a proof
    2. a point, a theme
    3. a topic, thesis
    4. a plot, especially in theater.
    5. a device, as for war.

    Declension

    Second-declension noun (neuter).

    singular plural
    nominative argūmentum argūmenta
    genitive argūmentī argūmentōrum
    dative argūmentō argūmentīs
    accusative argūmentum argūmenta
    ablative argūmentō argūmentīs
    vocative argūmentum argūmenta

    Derived terms

    Descendants

    References

    • argūmentum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
    • argumentum”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
    • "argumentum", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
    • argūmentum”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette, page 160.
    • Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894), Latin Phrase-Book[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
      • a strong, striking proof: argumentum firmum, magnum
      • to bring forward a proof: argumentum afferre
      • to quote an argument in favour of immortality: argumentum immortalitatis afferre (not pro)
      • to bring forward a proof of the immortality of the soul: argumentum afferre, quo animos immortales esse demonstratur
      • a proof of this is that..: argumento huic rei est, quod
      • to prove a thing indisputably: argumentis confirmare, comprobare, evincere aliquid (or c. Acc. c. Inf.)
      • to derive an argument from a thing: argumentum ducere, sumere ex aliqua re or petere ab aliqua re
      • to persist in an argument, press a point: argumentum premere (not urgere)
      • the points on which proofs are based; the grounds of proof: loci (τόποι) argumentorum (De Or. 2. 162)
      • to refute arguments: argumenta refellere, confutare
      • the plot of the piece: argumentum
      • I have nothing to write about: non habeo argumentum scribendi
      • I have nothing to write about: deest mihi argumentum ad scribendum (Att. 9. 7. 7)
    • argumentum in Ramminger, Johann (16 July 2016 (last accessed)), Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700[2], pre-publication website, 2005-2016
    • argūmentum” on page 168/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
    • Niermeyer, Jan Frederik (1976), “argumentum”, in Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden, Boston: E. J. Brill, page 59/2