1.Proof; evidence. (Obs.) "There is.. no more palpable and convincing argument of the existence of a Deity." "Why, then, is it made a badge of wit and an argument of parts for a man to commence atheist, and to cast off all belief of providence, all awe and reverence for religion?"
2.A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.
3.A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation. "The argument is about things, but names."
4.The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem. "You and love are still my argument." "The abstract or argument of the piece." "(Shields) with boastful argument portrayed."
5.Matter for question; business in hand. (Obs.) "Sheathed their swords for lack of argument."
6.(Astron.) The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.
7.(Math.) The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends.
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