debate English · revision 4062

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=la battuere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈbeɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|debat]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|debat]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb [[inh|enm|debaten]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|debatre|t=to fight, contend]] (modern French débattre),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from de- “down, completely”, or Latin dis-,^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) and [[m|fro|batre|t=to beat]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|battere]], an alteration of Latin [[m|la|battuere|t=to beat]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[batter]] and [[combat]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “A quarrel, dispute, strife”: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) before 1325 in Cursor Mundi according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first English meaning was fighting, which then became quarrelling and dispute and eventually the more civilized sense of deliberation and discussion.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, about 1340, meant both “to fight, quarrel” and “to discuss”;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) an Etymonline example from about 1500 still has “he began for to debate; he smote the porter”.^(Etymonline) Contention by argument is from the late 14th century, 1393 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a formal discussion or debating contest perhaps from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The transitive sense “to contend about in argument” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) and “to argue for or against in public” from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) The ''debatable land'', borderland claimed by England and Scotland, keeps the old sense.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Debatable'' is from 1536.^(Barnhart 1988) In Scotland and Yorkshire debate still meant a fight or struggle.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – a quarrel.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1340 – verb, to fight; to discuss.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – argument, controversy.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – a formal debate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – to argue in public.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1536 – ''debatable''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A discussion of opposing views; an [[argument]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A formal contest of argument in which two sides defend and attack a proposition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Discussion of a question in a public meeting or [[parliament]].^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ # Deliberation; consideration.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Conflict; strife.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To discuss or argue about opposing points.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To take part in a formal debate.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To consider; to [[deliberate]]: ''debated whether to go''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[debatement]]

+ * [[debater]]

+ * [[debatingly]]

+ * [[debatable]]

+ * [[outdebate]]

+ * [[redebate]]

+ * [[undebating]]

+ * [[postdebate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[combat]]

+ * [[batter]]

+ * [[battle]]

+ * [[abate]]

+ * [[battery]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}