[Lexicog] arguably

[David Tuggy]

It means the modified proposition is debatable, but one could make a 
good case for it, i.e. argue for it. The "arguable" part thus combines 
two aspects of the meaning of "argue". The claim that Chomsky is the 
greatest linguist is as eminently arguable (= debatable) as the claim 
that Microsoft is the world's greatest software company, but it is also 
arguable in that a good case can be made for it.

So, it does mean that it is not necessarily clear to everyone, or as you 
put it in your last comment, "arguably" refers to the fact that "we can 
quibble over the claim". But it implies that the quibbles will be mostly 
that, quibbles rather than refutations.

--David Tuggy

Wayne Leman wrote:

> Could someone on the list help me understand the word "arguably"? I 
> hear it
> used a lot. I think I understand what it means. I've read its dictionary
> meanings. I didn't grow up hearing or using it. Is there some "hook" to
> remember what it means. My brain has gotten it backwards, I think, 
> where it
> seems to me that "unarguably" would make more sense instead of saying
> "arguably." If we have to argue over something it's not clear to everyone.
>
> "Chomsky is arguably the greatest linguist who has every lived."
>
> Well, of course, we can quibble over the claim of that sentence, but 
> how can
> I get it into my head what "arguably" means there?
>
> Thanks,
> Wayne Leman
>
>
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