arguō

Latin

Etymology

Often taken to be a denominative verb 'to make bright, enlighten' to Proto-Italic *argu- (“bright”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂érǵus (“white”), from *h₂erǵ-. Thus cognate with Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árguros) and Hittite [script needed] (ḫarki-, “bright, white”). If so, compare English declare (literally “to make clear”) for the sense development.

Duchesne-Guillemin, Laroche and Melchert reject the above etymology and instead compare arguo with the semantically better-fitting Hittite [script needed] (arkuwā(i)-, “state one's case, make a plea”).

Pronunciation

(Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈar.ɡu.oː/, [ˈärɡuoː]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈar.ɡu.o/, [ˈärɡuo]

Verb

arguō (present infinitive arguere, perfect active arguī, supine argūtum); third conjugation

(to make clear to the mind): to clarify, to make plain; to assert, declare, prove, show [ synonyms ▲]
Synonyms: affirmō, firmō, contendō, aiō, fīgō
to reprove, accuse, charge with [ synonyms ▲][ quotations ▼]
Synonyms: accūsō, condemnō, crīminor, compellō, obloquor, obiectō, corripiō, arripiō, pulsō, incūsō, arcessō
to blame, censure [ synonyms ▲]
Synonyms: obiūrgō, castīgō, perstringō, īnsector, corripiō, exprobrō, accūsō, incūsō, damnō, obloquor, acclāmō, inclāmō, increpō, animadvertō, reprehendō, compellō
to denounce as false