Origin: 1250–1300; (v.)
Middle English debaten <
Old French debatre, equivalent to
de- de- +
batre to beat <
Latin battere, earlier
battuere; (noun)
Middle English debat <
Old French, derivative of
debatre Related formsde·bat·er, noun
de·bat·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·de·bate, verb, in·ter·de·bat·ed, in·ter·de·bat·ing.
non·de·bat·er, noun
non·de·bat·ing, adjective
EXPANDout·de·bate, verb (used with object), out·de·bat·ed, out·de·bat·ing.
o·ver·de·bate, verb, o·ver·de·bat·ed, o·ver·de·bat·ing.
post·de·bate, adjective
pre·de·bate, noun
pre·de·bat·er, noun
re·de·bate, noun, verb, re·de·bat·ed, re·de·bat·ing.
un·de·bat·ed, adjective
un·de·bat·ing, adjective
well-de·bat·ed, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms 1. argument, controversy, disputation, contention.
5. dispute, contend.
See argue.