conj. adv. Perversion of L. ergo ‘therefore’; hence subst. a clumsy piece of reasoning.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. i. 21. He drownes not himselfe. Argal, he … shortens not his owne life.
1861. Times, 23 Aug., 10/1. Mr. Buckle’s argument [is] as absurd an argal as ever was invented by philosopher or gravedigger.
1871. J. Morley, Crit. Misc., 152. And, as we should not be beaten if we did not deserve it, argal, suffering is a merited punishment.
