English word debate comes from Latin dis- (expresses reversal) and Latin battuere (to fight) and reaches English via Old French debatre
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| dis- | Latin (lat) | Asunder, apart, in two. Reversal, removal. Utterly, exceedingly. |
| battuere | Latin (lat) | Fight |
| desbattere | Undetermined (und) | |
| debatre | Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) | |
| debate | English (en) | (Frequently in French form débat) A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin.. (obsolete) Strife, discord.. (uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.. An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two [...] |