argue

Where does the word "argue" come from? It comes from Late Latin argutare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Argue’s story begins in Late Latin: argutare meant “to prattle.” A frequentative of 'arguere', to make clear, prove. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as arguer. Scholastic debates in medieval universities were built on 'arguments'. It reached English by 1300s as argue. The sense 'to quarrel' dates from the 1800s. Today, argue means to exchange opposing views.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient argutare "to prattle", a frequentative of 'arguere', to make clear, prove.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval arguer "to reason, accuse", scholastic debates in medieval universities were built on 'arguments'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s argue "to reason", the sense 'to quarrel' dates from the 1800s.