English → Latin
“debate” in Latin
disputōto estimate or compute; to discuss, debate or argue; to preachconcertōto fight or contend; to dispute or debatemultusmuch; manydisceptātiōdispute, disputation, debate, discussioncontentiōstretching, tension; competition, rivalry; struggle, effort
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
debate v.
disputare (☞ not = “to dispute” in our sense of the word; but either to discuss a question, or to think it over in one’s own mind; it does not relate to contest, but to deliberation and discussion: to debate a point, or subject, is not rem, but de aliqua re, with the exception of id, hoc, haec, quae, multa, etc.): disceptare verbis (to weigh the grounds of any disputed point, with a view to its decision; de aliqua, re, except haec, etc.; also absolutely): verbis contendere, concertare (of a vehement controversial debate): the question is debated, causa in disceptatione versatur: to debate the point wisely and justly, haec juste sapienterque disceptare; pro and con, de re in contrarias partes, or in utramque partem disputare.
To debate in one’s own mind upon anything, cogitare or meditari de aliqua re; secum in animo versare (unamquamque) rem; omnes in utraque parte calculos ponere; exactissimo judicio examinare aliquid.
debate s.
disceptatio (a quiet consideration of the arguments on both sides, truth being the object): contentio (a contest in words, to make good one’s own cause). A stormy debate, perhaps magna non disceptatio modo, sed etiam altercatio (after Liv., 38, 32; magna ibi non disceptatio modo, sed etiam altercatio fuit): there was an animated or violent debate in the Senate, magna in Senatu disceptatio fuit (Liv. 38, 32). If = strife Vid.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for debate?
- The usual Latin words for “debate” are disputō, concertō, multus; also disceptātiō, contentiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.