I.a.
I. Orig. in mercant. lang., to cast or reckon up, to calculate a sum by going over its items; to estimate, compute: “ubi disputata est ratio cum argentario,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 55.—
II. Transf. beyond the mercant. sphere, to weigh, examine, investigate, treat of, discuss a doubtful subject, either by meditating or (more commonly) by speaking upon it (good prose; very freq. in Cicero's philos. and rhet. writings; cf. for syn.: dissero, discepto); constr. usual. with accus. of neutr. pron. or with de and abl. (cf. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 372): “in meo corde eam rem volutavi et diu disputavi,” Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 4: “ea, quae disputavi, disserere malui quam judicare,” Cic. N. D. 3, 40 fin.: “neque haec in eam sententiam disputo, ut, etc.,” id. de Or. 1, 25, 117: “aliquid pro tribunali multis verbis,” id. Fam. 3, 8, 3: “hoc,” id. Tusc. 1, 34, 83 et saep.: “(Druides) multa de sideribus atque eorum motu, etc.... disputant,” Caes. B. G. 6, 14 fin.: “de moribus, de virtutibus, de re publica,” Cic. Rep. 1, 10: “de omni re in contrarias partes,” id. de Or. 1, 34, 158: cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 3 fin.; id. Fam. 11, 27 fin.; Caes. B. C. 1, 86, 3: “ab his, qui contra disputant,” Cic. Rep. 1, 3; cf. id. ib. 1, 18: “non inscite ad ea disputat, quae, etc.,” id. Tusc. 3, 9; cf. id. ib. 1, 4, 7; id. Rep. 1, 16: “quale sit de quo disputabitur,” id. ib. 1, 24: “disputatur in consilio a Petreio et Afranio,” Caes. B. C. 1, 67 et saep.: “nunc utriusque disceptator eccum adest, age disputa,” i. e. relate, tell, Plaut. Most. 5, 2, 16; cf. id. Rud. 3, 4, 13: “rem alicui,” i. e. to state, represent, id. Men. prol. 50.—With acc. and inf.: “isti in eo disputant, Contaminari non decere fabulas,” i. e. maintain, Ter. And. prol. 15 Ruhnk.—
B. In late Lat.
2. To dispute, contend in words: “quis eorum major esset,” Vulg. Marc. 9, 33: “cum diabolo,” id. Jud. 9.
