Debate

v. t.	1.	To engage in combat for; to strive for. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. - Prescott.
	2.	To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against. A wise council . . . that did debate this business. - Shak. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. - Prov. xxv. 9.
v. i.	1.	To engage in strife or combat; to fight. Well could he tourney and in lists debate. - Spenser.
	2.	To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; - often followed by on or upon. He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. - Tatler.
n.	1.	A fight or fighting; contest; strife. On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. - R. of Gloucester. But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate. - Sir W. Scott.
	2.	Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress. Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. - Pope.
	3.	Subject of discussion. Statutes and edicts concerning this debate. - Milton.

Noun	1.	debate - a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal; "the argument over foreign aid goes on and on" Synonyms: argumentation, argument
	2.	debate - the formal presentation of and opposition to a stated proposition (usually followed by a vote) Synonyms: disputation, public debate
Verb	1.	debate - argue with one another; "We debated the question of abortion"; "John debated Mary"
	2.	debate - think about carefully; weigh; "They considered the possibility of a strike"; "Turn the proposal over in your mind" Synonyms: deliberate, moot, consider, turn over
	3.	debate - discuss the pros and cons of an issue Synonyms: deliberate
	4.	debate - have an argument about something Synonyms: argue, contend, fence

DEBATE, legislation, practice. A contestation between two or more persons, in which they take different sides of a question, and maintain them, respectively, by facts and arguments; or it is a discussion, in writing, of some contested point.
     2. The debate should be conducted with fairness, candor and decorum, and supported by facts and arguments founded in reason; when, in addition, it is ornamented by learning, and decorated by the powers of rhetoric, it becomes eloquent and persuasive. It is essential that the power of debate should be free, in order to an energetic discharge of his duty by the debator.
     3. The Constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 6, provides, that for any speech or debate, in either house, the senators and representatives shall not be questioned in any other place.
     4. It is a rule of the common law, that counsel may, in, the discharge of professional duty, use strong epithets, however derogatory to the character of the opponent, or his attorney, or other agent or witness, in commenting on the facts of the case, if pertinent to the cause, and stated in his instructions, without any liability to any action for the supposed slander, whether the thing stated were true or false. 1 B. & Ald. 232; 3 Dow's R. 273, 277, 279; 7 Bing. R. 459; S. C. 20 E. C. L. R. 198. Respectable and sensible counsel, however, will always refrain from the indulgence of any unjust severity, both on their own personal account, and because browbeating a witness, or other person, will injuriously affect their case in the eyes of a respectable court and jury. 3 Chit. Pr. 887, 8.

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