Argument, 1) reasoning, debate, discussion: “I force not a. a straw,” Lucr. 1021. “all kind of --s and question deep,” Compl. 121. “how did this a. begin?” LLL III, 105. “I'll darkly end the a.” V, 2, 23. V, 1, 19. 2, 84. As I, 2, 50. John I, 36. IV, 2, 54. H5 III, 2, 104. H6A II, 5, 45 “(in a. upon a case).” Rom. II, 4, 105. Cymb. I, 4, 60. To hold a. == to dispute: Pilgr. 30. LLL IV, 3, 61. Ado II, 3, 55. H6A II, 4, 57. For shape, for bearing, a. and valour (manner of reasoning or discoursing) Ado III, 1, 96 (O. Edd. bearing argument, without a comma).
2) the matter in question, the business in hand: “how can they charitably dispose of anything, when blood is their a.?” H5 IV, 1, 150. “sheathed their swords for lack of a.” H5 III, 1, 21. “I cannot fight upon this a.” Troil. I, 1, 95 (cf. Hml. IV, 4, 54). “all the a. is a cuckold and a whore,” II, 3, 78. “that most may claim this a. for ours,” Mcb. II, 3, 126. “in a. of praise,” All's III, 5, 62; i. e. if praise is the thing required.
3) the theme, the subject: “pour'st into my verse thine own sweet a.” Sonn. 38, 3 (i. e. thou art the theme of my verse). “you and love are still my a.” 76, 10. 79, 5. 100, 8. 103, 3. 105, 9. LLL V, 2, 757. Tw. II, 5, 163. Wint. IV, 1, 29. R2 I, 1, 12. H4B V, 2, 23. H5 III, 2, 85. Troil. II, 3, 104. Troil. II, 3, 104 Troil. II, 3, 104 Tim. III, 3, 20. 5, 23. Lr. I, 1, 218. II, 1, 9. “I should not seek an absent a. of my revenge,” As III, 1, 3 (object). “the rarest a. of wonder,” Alls II, 3, 7. “become the a. of his own scorn,” Ado II, 3, 11; and absolutely: “thou wilt prove a notable a.” Ado I, 1, 258 (== wilt be spoken of, turned into ridicule). “you would not make me such an a.” Mids. III, 2, 242. “it would be a. for a week,” H4A II, 2, 100.
4) that of which a dramatic play treats: “the a. shall be thy running away,” H4A II, 4, 310. H4B IV, 5, 199. H4B IV, 5, 199. Hml. III, 2, 149. Hml. III, 2, 149 there was no money bid for a. (i. e. for a dramatic subject) Hml. II, 2, 372.
5) contents: “if I would broach the vessels of my love, and try the a. of hearts by borrowing,” Tim. II, 2, 187. cf. the superscr. of Lucr. Arg.
6) cause, reason: “my desires had instance and a. to commend themselves,” Wiv. II, 2, 256. “grounded upon no other a.” As I, 2, 291. “by these --s of fear,” Tw. III, 3, 12. bloody a. == cause of bloodshed, Tw. III, 3, 12 H5 IV, 3, 113. H6B III, 1, 241. H6C II, 2, 44. III, 1, 49. R3 I, 1, 148. H8 II, 4, 67. Troil. IV, 5, 26. Troil. IV, 5, 26 29 (a quibble). Hml. IV, 4, 54.
7) a reason offered in proof: “no great a. of her folly,” Ado II, 3, 243. LLL I, 2, 175. Tw. III, 2, 12. H6A II, 4, 59. V, 1, 46. H6B I, 2, 32. Ant. III, 12, 3.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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