What does redargued mean?
Redargued is the past tense and past participle of the uncommon verb redargue, meaning to argue again. It usually implies reopening a dispute, reconsidering an earlier objection, or presenting arguments that have already been made. The word is especially associated with formal debate, legal argument, committee discussion, and repeated attempts to persuade others, although it can apply to any sustained disagreement. Its standard modern alternative is reargue, whose past tense is reargued. Redargued carries the straightforward implication of renewed argument rather than a new subject of dispute. Because it is relatively uncommon and can sound repetitive, it is most natural when the repetition of argument itself is relevant. In careful contemporary prose, writers are more likely to use reargue, recontest, or a more specific phrase such as reopen the debate.
verbArgued a matter again, especially in response to an earlier argument or decision.
- To argue again; to reopen or contest a subject previously argued.
"The committee redargued the proposal before publishing its final recommendation."
"The dissenting judges redargued the interpretation of the statute."
"After the committee reconsidered its decision, it redargued the proposal in a second session."
Some arguments refuse to end: redargued means the dispute has been reopened, not merely continued.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does redargued come from?
The word is formed from the prefix re-, meaning again, and argue, which comes through Old French arguier from Latin arguere, “to assert, prove, or argue.” Its forms parallel argue, argues, argued, and arguing, with the addition of re- indicating renewed action. Modern English more commonly uses reargue and reargued, while redargue and redargued are uncommon alternatives.
Related word forms
How redargued is actually used
This is an uncommon verb. In ordinary modern English, reargue and reargued are generally preferred.
Easily confused with redargued
Redargued is an uncommon past form of redargue, while reargue is the more usual modern verb and normally takes the form reargued in the past tense.