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

Debate \De*bate"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. d['e]battre; L. de + batuere
   to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.]
   1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.
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            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.
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   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.
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            A wise council . . . that did debate this business.
                                                  --Shak.
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            Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. --Prov.
                                                  xxv. 9.

   Syn: To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and
        Discuss.
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Debate \De*bate"\, v. i.
   1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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            Well could he tourney and in lists debate.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   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.
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            He presents that great soul debating upon the
            subject of life and death with his intimate friends.
                                                  --Tatler.
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Debate \De*bate"\, n. [F. d['e]bat, fr. d['e]battre. See
   Debate, v. t.]
   1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]
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            On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great
            debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . .
            . fourscore.                          --R. of
                                                  Gloucester.
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            But question fierce and proud reply
            Gave signal soon of dire debate.      --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   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.
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            Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. --Pope.
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   3. Subject of discussion. [R.]
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            Statutes and edicts concerning this debate.
                                                  --Milton.
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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.