Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow (Q. Nos. 121 to 127) by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

Father would dress himself for court in a brightly coloured dhoti, a matching white shirt with an equally bright white turban and a neat black coat. The paraphernalia to court would include a cloth bundle containing court papers and a basket containing hot coffee with tumblers and plates for tiffin given by my mother or sisters-in-law.

The younger advocates of his time were great admirers of my father and used to listen to him with rapt attention whenever he rose to address the court. His arguments were for cogent, compulsive and conclusive. The arguments would go on till about lunchtime and even the English judge used to take down notes of his points.

One client was particular that my father alone should argue his case. On the day my mother died, this case happened to be on the cause list. My mother was alive when my father left for court at 10 a.m. that morning and he had told my brother that he would return as soon as the case was over. Unfortunately, she died within an hour of his departure.

With some difficulty, the news was conveyed through an advocate in court. My father, however, continued his arguments without showing any emotions. Only after concluding the case did he get back home to the room where my mother's body lay and stood in stoic silence.

‘His arguments were for
.............’
Choose the word similar in meaning to the underlined one.