King James Bible Dictionary

DEBATE, noun

1. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for elucidating truth; strife in argument or reasoning, between persons of different opinions, each endeavoring to prove his own opinion right, and that of his opposer wrong; dispute; controversy; as the debates in parliament or in congress.

2. Strife; contention.

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate Isaiah 1:8.

3. The power of being disputed; as, this question is settled beyond debate; the story is true beyond debate

4. debate or debates, the published report of arguments for and against a measure; as, the debates in the convention are printed.

DEBATE, verb transitive To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain a cause by reasoning; to dispute; to discuss; to argue; to contest, as opposing parties; as, the question was debated till a late hour.

DEBATE thy cause with thy neighbor himself. Proverbs 25:9.

DEBATE, verb intransitive

1. To debate on or in, to deliberate; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind.

2. To dispute.

3. To engage in combat.

DEBA'TED, participle passive Disputed; argued; discussed.

DEBA'TEFUL, adjective

1. Of things, contested; occasioning contention.

2. Of persons, quarrelsome; contentious.

DEBA'TEFULLY, adverb With contention.

DEBA'TEMENT, noun Controversy; deliberation.

DEBA'TER, noun One who debates; a disputant; a controvertist.