Noun

(en noun)

A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.

* Ray

There is no more palpable and convincing argument of the existence of a Deity.

A verbal dispute; a quarrel.

A process of reasoning.

* John Locke

The argument is not about things, but names.

(philosophy, logic) A series of propositions organized so that the final proposition is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding propositions, which function as premises.

*

(mathematics) The independent variable of a function.

(programming) A value, or reference to a value, passed to a function.

* {{quote-web, date = 2011-07-20

, author = Edwin Mares , title = Propositional Functions , site = The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy , url = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2011/entries/propositional-function , accessdate = 2012-07-15 }}

In ‘The Critic of Arguments’ (1892), Peirce adopts a notion that is even closer to that of a propositional function. There he develops the concept of the ‘rhema’. He says the rhema is like a relative term, but it is not a term. It contains a copula, that is, when joined to the correct number of arguments it produces an assertion. For example, ‘__ is bought by __ from __ for __’ is a four-place rhema. Applying it to four objects a'', ''b'', ''c'', and ''d'' produces the assertion that ''a'' is bought by ''b'' from ''c'' for ''d (ibid. 420).

Parameters are like labeled fillable blanks used to define a function whereas arguments are passed to a function when calling it, filling in those blanks.

(programming) A parameter in a function definition; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.

(linguistics) Any of the phrases that bears a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.

*

In numerous works over the past two decades, beginning with the pioneering work of Gruber (1965), Fillmore (1968a), and Jackendoff (1972), it has been argued that each Argument' (i.e. Subject or Complement) of a Predicate bears a particular ''thematic role'' (alias ''theta-role'', or ''θ-role'' to its Predicate), and that the set of ''thematic functions'' which ' Arguments can fulfil are drawn from a highly restricted, finite, universal set.

(astronomy) The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends.

The altitude is the argument of the refraction.

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.

* Shakespeare

You and love are still my argument .

* Jeffrey

the abstract or argument of the piece

* Milton

[shields] with boastful argument portrayed

Matter for question; business in hand.

* Shakespeare

Sheathed their swords for lack of argument .

Noun

(testimonies)

(legal) statements made by a witness in court.

* {{quote-news

, date = 21 August 2012 , first = Ed , last = Pilkington , title = Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die? , newspaper = The Guardian , url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/21/death-penalty-trial-reggie-clemons?newsfeed=true , page = , passage = The Missouri prosecutors' case against Clemons, based partly on incriminating testimony given by his co-defendants, was that Clemons was part of a group of four youths who accosted the sisters on the Chain of Rocks Bridge one dark night in April 1991. }}

An account of first-hand experience.

* Milton

[Thou] for the testimony of truth, hast borne / Universal reproach.

In a church service, a personal account, such as of one's conversion.

Witness; evidence; proof of some fact.

* Bible Mark vi. 11

When ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.