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argumentative

[ahr-gyuh-men-tuh-tiv]
adjective
  1. fond of or given to argument and dispute; disputatious; contentious: The law students were an unusually argumentative group.
  2. of or characterized by argument; controversial: an argumentative attitude toward political issues.
  3. Law. arguing or containing arguments suggesting that a certain fact tends toward a certain conclusion.
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Origin of argumentative

First recorded in 1635–45; argument + -ative
Related formsar·gu·men·ta·tive·ly, adverbar·gu·men·ta·tive·ness, nounnon·ar·gu·men·ta·tive, adjectivenon·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ly, adverbnon·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ness, nouno·ver·ar·gu·men·ta·tive, adjectiveo·ver·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ly, adverbo·ver·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ness, nounun·ar·gu·men·ta·tive, adjectiveun·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ly, adverbun·ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for argumentatively

Historical Examples of argumentatively

  • "Well then, supposing I don't tell you that," the other resumed, argumentatively.

    The Market-Place

    Harold Frederic

  • "And he hasn't any other place to eat," said Miss Lady, argumentatively.

  • "I don't know on what you base that," said Miss Van Vluyck argumentatively.

    Xingu

    Edith Wharton

  • “You would like Eric,” she said, argumentatively rather than hopefully.

  • "But it won't do a penn'orth of good," broke in Tims, argumentatively.

    The Invader

    Margaret L. Woods

British Dictionary definitions for argumentatively

argumentative

adjective
  1. given to arguing; contentious
  2. characterized by argument; controversial
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Derived Formsargumentatively, adverbargumentativeness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for argumentatively

argumentative

adj.

mid-15c., "pertaining to arguments," from Old French argumentatif or directly from Latin argumentat-, past participle stem of argumentari (see argue) + -ive. Meaning "fond of arguing" is recorded from 1660s. Related: Argumentatively; argumentativeness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper