Argument

1. A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.
2. Proof; evidence.
3. The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem.
4. A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.
5. To make an argument; to argue.
6. The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.
7. The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends.
8. Matter for question; business in hand.